Biography
CV
James Kendall is a photographer and writer whose arts practice is in service to the intersection of music, youth culture and age, with a focus on themes of connection and collective joy. He has been writing about popular culture since 1992 and for the past 12 years has been an editorial photographer, published by i-D, NME, the BBC and many others.
His arts practice is exemplified by his most recent project Wasted On The Young, an investigation of the changing nature of middle age. He uses photography as a means of connection and to suggest ways that others can connect to each other and the world. He has had a range of exhibitions - both solo and group shows. His project Best Before was featured in The Guardian amongst other media outlets and was shortlisted for the Danny Wilson Award at the Brighton Photo Fringe.
Now into his third decade of writing about music, he has run his own magazine and travelled the world as a freelance journalist and photographer, as well as hosting radio shows, DJing and promoting club nights and parties. During 12 years of writing for DJmag he reviewed 5,000 singles, as well as writing 26 cover stories over a three-year period. He reported on the dance music scene from over 20 different countries, including Russia, Brazil and China. Finally hanging up his professional dancing shoes, he was editor and co-owner of Brighton’s much-loved Source Magazine for eight years. During that time he interviewed and gave first covers to Metronomy, Bat For Lashes, Foals, The Maccabees and many more.
All images and text © James Kendall 2023
Exhibitions
Disclosive (Group Show), CCA, Brighton 2023
Source Magazine Graduate Photography (Group Show) Online 2023
One Stop Copy Shop (Group Show), University Of Brighton 2023
Source Magazine 20th Birthday (Group Show), North Laine, Brighton 2018
Best Before (Solo Show) Dissenting Academy, London 2014
Best Before (Solo Show) Hope & Ruin, Brighton 2011
Lesbians To Thesbians (Group Show), Marlborough Theatre, Brighton 2008
Awards
Danny Wilson Award (Shortlisted) 2011
Education & Teaching
MA Photography University Of Brighton 2023
Post Graduate Certificate In Higher Education University Of Sussex 2020
HEA Fellowship Advance HE 2020
Course Leader & Lecturer BIMM University, 2015-present
Books & Publications
Wasted On The Young Wasted Press 2023
Disclosive Catalogue Self Published 2023
Source Magazine Self Published 2006-2014
Commercial Clients & Publication
Photography: BBC, Guardian, i-D, Spin, FatCat Records, Ignition Records, London Records, NME and others
Writing: DJ Magazine, Sunday Times, Classic Pop Magazine, Brighton Source, Dummy and others