Photographer spotlight: Grace Mclean (she/her)
@gr.ace.studios
Primitive Instinct (2026)
“I want to make people feel confident in themselves through my photography,” Grace describes the motto of her practice. An emerging editorial portrait photographer based in London, ON, Grace uses dramatic lighting and vibrant colours to tell stories that go beyond simple portraiture.
In Primitive Instinct, Grace captures her friend Simone posing confidently in red lingerie, creating a sharp contrast against a bright blue background, referencing a subtle sense of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe. This project is a collaboration between a female photographer and a female model, reclaiming the objectification of female bodies in portrait photography traditionally dominated by the male gaze.
In Sovereign, Grace employs dramatic lighting and a deep, velvet-red background to create a baroque-esque visual, capturing her friend Cael posing on a cheetah-print rug that mirrors his cheetah-style buzz cut while wearing an unzipped fur vest. The image creates a sense of opulence and composure, offering deep storytelling. Grace’s overall work seeks to build mutual trust between herself and her models, allowing her vision to come to life while honouring the models’ unique styles and personalities.
Statement written with Promise Chen @promise.chan
Ommatidia: Fanshawe Advanced Photo Student Showcase is on view at TAP Centre for Creativity until February 23. View the full exhibition publication on our website (link in bio). @tapcreativityon@fanshawe_photography@westernusasah@westernuvisarts@westernu_arts
