WINNER OF PORTRAIT OF BRITAIN 2023

ABOUT PHOTOGRAPH

Subject: Fr. Jarel Robinson Brown

I met Jarel, an Anglo Catholic priest, when I was looking for leaders of religious organisations who were openly queer, so that I could spotlight safe spaces for people of faith who were discovering their queerness. As an openly gay priest Jarel writes “To understand those with whom we share space in this world, we need to see them as God sees them without the longing to turn them into who we want them to be. To do otherwise is to love others only insofar as they become what we want them to become.”

ABOUT PORTRAIT OF BRITAIN

Portrait of Britain is an award-winning nationwide photography exhibition, run by British Journal of Photography, in partnership with JCDecaux. The exhibition celebrates the rich tapestry of people that make up Great Britain, by turning their stories into public art.

Portrait of Britain is groundbreaking in its scale and its mission. Envisioned as an exhibition for the people, by the people, it is the nation’s biggest photography exhibition and each year is seen by millions of people across the country. Since its inception in 2016, Portrait of Britain’s following has grown exponentially, and last year’s edition welcomed thousands of entries. With the nation currently at such a crucial point in its history, Portrait of Britain is more relevant than ever – and this year is set to be the biggest edition yet.

With special thanks to the judges: 

Martin Usborne
Founder of Hoxton Mini Press 

Misan Harriman
Chair of the Southbank Centre, London 

Sabina Jaskot-Gill
Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, London 

Renee Mussai
Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial & Collection at Autograph, London 

Siân Addicott
Director of Ffotogallery