Case Study: Alice Louisa
Alice Louisa is a Southampton-based documentary photographer, artist, and community arts facilitator committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through lens-based storytelling. Her work is inspired by her upbringing, and explores themes of class, identity, and social issues. She uses portraiture, research, and creative direction to challenge societal narratives.
Alice is interested in the political potential of art and often uses humour and fantasy to explore this. She aims to work collaboratively with individuals and communities that have been under- and/or misrepresented in the media, facilitating co-creation workshops with youth groups, community organisations, charities, schools, and environmental and women’s groups.
Her photography spans documentary, portraiture, and fashion, with recent exhibitions including International Women’s Day: Community Projects, Perspectives from a Safe Space’, a collaborative art project with Hope Street, dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of women affected by the justice system. Alice’s work has been published in HUCK and Polyester Magazine, and she continues to develop long-form projects that highlight overlooked stories.
She’s a member of Southampton-based arts collective ZEST Collective and Working Class Creatives Database, and her work is supported by ‘a space’ arts.
Portfolios
Website:
https://alicelouisap.wixsite.com/portfolio
WCCD:
https://www.workingclasscreativesdatabase.co.uk/member/alice-louisa
ZEST:
https://www.zestartscollective.com/artists/alice-louisa
(The Mountbatten: A lifeline for many – Southampton Forward)
Pub Cultures
Alice worked closely with Dawn and the regulars of The Mountbatten Pub, gathering stories and photographing the community. Many customers shared memories of the area, from its days as a field, to a nightclub, and now as a much-loved pub at the heart of Lordshill.
The project has uncovered a tight-knit, supportive community, with stories ranging from global travel to lives spent entirely in Southampton. Alongside the portraits, locals’ memories – including tales of the legendary character Tommy Moore – will inspire a living community mural to be unveiled inside the pub.
“The locals trust me – it’s been a joy capturing their stories and photographing them as part of this celebration of their community.”
Alice really saw the value of building trust in community-led projects, how community pride thrives in shared spaces, and the importance of places like pubs in the neighbourhood. These insights will help shape her practice as a community artist.