Dr Carla Hamer

Senior Lecturer in Photography

Email:: Carla.hamer@bcu.ac.uk

Carla is an artist, researcher and Senior Lecturer based in the Art Activisms research cluster. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and leads the CLiC team (Communities for Learning in the context of Art, Design and Media). Her interdisciplinary research connects photography, performance, and ethnographically engaged practice, focusing on the intersections of performative photography, performativity, and affect. Carla gained a First-Class Honours degree in Fine Art before completing an MA in Contemporary Art, and a PhD at Middlesex University.

Her doctoral thesis, Photographic Encounters: A Performative Framework for Practice-Led Ethnographically Informed Research (2021) investigated the ethical challenges and possibilities of performative photographic approaches for mediating and accounting for practice-led research informed by ethnographic models. Her publication, Reimagining Past Histories and Experiences Through Performative Photography and Auto-Ethnography (2024), reflects these ongoing interests.

Carla has also devoted special attention to how performative pedagogies can foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the artistic disciplines in higher education and is an active member of the IFTR’s (International Federation for Theatre Research) Interdisciplinary Performative Pedagogies working group. Her current project merges performative photography, documentary theatre, and ethnography.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Publications

Exhibition/ public projects

Hamer, C. (2022) Verdant [exhibition] The Art Pavilion, Middlesex University Arts & Creative Industries, 8 – 14 July.

Hamer, C. (2020) Fond memories of Karen, Video presented at the Arts and Creative Industries, Winter Research Conference [online], Middlesex University (December 2020). 

Hamer, C. (2012) An encounter with a Stranger (Video Installation), MMU Cheshire Centenary Events exhibition: Axis Gallery (September 2012). 

Conference Contributions:

Hamer, C., Botham P. (2025) From Eurocentric Theory to Decolonial Practice: Reflections on a Personal Research Turn. In Milestones and Markers-Performance, Identity and Community- TaPRA Annual Conference 2025. 27- 29 August, Warwick: University of Warwick.

Hamer, C., Botham P. (2025) From Polarisation to Collaborative Encounters: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Argentina. In: Performing Carnival: Ekstasis | Subversion | Metamorphosis’ - Annual Conference of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR). Cologne: University of Cologne (UoC).

Hamer, C. Lebre, R.A., Lennon, A., Reynolds, L., (2025) Acting Design: Exploring art and performance inspired pedagogies in design teaching. In 9th INTERNATIONAL MEETING on ART EDUCATION ART AND ART EDUCATION: networks of resistance and transformation. 20- 23 June. Porto, University of Porto (Forthcoming).

Hamer, C., Lennon, A., (2024) The ‘Simulated Studio’: Supporting Transition to University through Performative Pedagogies and Collaboration. In The Performativity of Politics in Digital Media, Arts and Culture', - IFTR- (International Federation of Theatre Research), 16-19. Belgrade: University of Arts.

Hamer, C. (2023) “Reimagining post-migration relationships through photography and auto-ethnography”: VIII Art of Research Conference. Espoo, Finland, 30 November- 1 December. Espoo: Aalto University.

Hamer, C. (2022) “Working with human participants”. In Approaching Research in the Arts and Communication Fields: Methods and Methodologies in Action Talk Series Conference, Middlesex University (February 2022).  

Hamer, C. (2017) “Playful Grammar”, Conference workshop at the Playful Learning Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University (12th -14th July 2017).

Hamer, C. (2017) “Un-still photographs that tell stories”, Paper presentation at the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Middlesex University, London (June 2017).

Hamer, C. (2016) “The photographer as performer”. Paper presentation and Installation at: Practice and Curation as Creative Process – An International Symposium (26 -27 February 2016), Manchester Metropolitan University.

Hamer, C. (2016) “Work: Play”, Conference at Middlesex University (7 April 2016).

Hamer, C. (2016) “Work in Progress”. Pecha Kucha Conference, Middlesex University (February 2016).

Hamer, C. (2015) “Photographing Memories”, Paper presentation at Contested Spaces, Shared Places Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire Campus (July 2015).

Hamer, C. (2015) “A collaborative methodology between photography and performance in ethnographically informed research”, Paper presented at the Photography and Communities Symposium, Middlesex University. 

Hamer, C. (2014) “The embodied camera: A relation between identity, space and representation in transnational migrant communities”, Poster presentation at the Ottoman Pasts, Present Cities: Cosmopolitanism and Transcultural Memories Masterclass (AHRC Research Network), University of London (28th November 2014).

Hamer, C. (2012) “Documents of knowledge and the artist book”, Paper presented at Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire Campus (November 2012).

Publications:

Hamer, C., Botham, P., (2026) From Polarisation to Collaborative Encounters: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Argentina. In Theatre Research International (forthcoming).

Hamer, C. (2024) Reimagining Past Histories and Experiences through Performative Photography and Auto-ethnography. In: VIII Art of Research Conference, 30 November- 1 December: Research in Art and Education Journal. DOI: 10.54916/rae.142573.

Langton, J., Teixeria, H., Hughes, L., Stint, C., Collier, O., Rogers, W., Hamer, C., Page, C., Healey, J., Silvester, J., Ermis, S., Culff, B., Todorova, T., Bevis, J., & Chan, J. (2022). eXtended BCU - Digital Twins for Gamified Teaching and Learning. Software.

Hamer, C. (2016) A collaborative methodology between photography and performance in ethnographically informed research, Critical Arts, 30(3) Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02560046.2016.1205321.