Photographer In Residence
In the spring of 2024, Langara College’s Professional Photography department successfully piloted its first Artist in Residence program. The primary goal of this residency is to offer the artists time and resources to develop a photographic body of work, which will be exhibited at the conclusion of the residency. The project is intended to foster community engagement, with a focus on social advocacy or a cause that contributes positively to society.
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Applications for 2026 are closed. Please keep an eye out on the Langara website for 2027 residency call for applications.
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The Langara College Photography Residency is designed for experienced photographers looking to develop a personal portfolio project centered on social advocacy or broader humanitarian themes.
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The position lasts for three months, from January until April
2026 Photographers in Residence
Tanya Goehring and Trevor Jacobson
Tanya Goehring and Trevor Jacobson are the creative duo known as The Automatic Message. They create surreal, emotional and immersive audiovisual experiences. Much of their work is psychological in nature and centers around themes of memory and the displacement thereof.
For over a decade, The Automatic Message performed live audiovisual sets across North America and Europe, most notably the legendary Berghain club in Berlin. Their live performances blend experimental techno with surreal, narrative-driven visuals.
Recently, their focus has shifted toward creating immersive film installations that expand on their cinematic and sonic language. In 2022, they received a Canada Council for the Arts grant to produce EMDR, a four- channel immersive film installation, that premiered in 2025 at VIVO Media Arts. Past works include a two- channel installation Cultivating the Witness, and a 55 minute experimental dance film for Cristian Vogel’s The Ballad of Agnete and the Merman, presented in 52-channel immersive audio at ZKM and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
They have just been named the 2026 Artists in Residence for Langara College and are very excited to be working on a new multichannel film installation, premiering in April of 2026.
Previous Photographers in Residence
2025
Pooya Nabei
2025 Artist, Pooya Nabei: Pooya is a commercial portrait and fashion photographer. Pooya embraces a rich, moody, and sensual representation of the drama and energy of everyday life.
The 2025 Project: Titled, “An Old Reverie,“ the project explores the myriad struggles that individuals and families face as they write their stories in a foreign land. An immigrant himself, Pooya has always been fascinated by the profound changes one must navigate to successfully adjust to a new country and culture.
2024
Tilly Nelson
2024 Artist, Tilly Nelson: Tilly is a commercial photographer based between Vancouver, Toronto, and London, England. She is known for her advocacy for inclusive sets and for including models with visual and physical disabilities in media and advertising.
The 2024 Project: A series of studio portraits featuring people with disabilities in their professional roles. The goal of this project is to empower younger people with disabilities without framing individuals as heroes or suggesting that their roles are surprising. Tilly’s project sparks powerful conversations about inclusion among students and instructors.
View Tilly Nelson’s Exhibit here: https://www.tillynelson.com/were-already-here