BIO/CV
Francisca Otal Simal is a Photographer & Visual Artist based in London, originally from Spain.
She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. Her expertise spans photography, engraving, screen printing, and photomontage. Her journey into documentary photography began during an international exchange in Santiago, Chile, where she developed projects under the mentorship of Mario Fonseca, a renowned Chilean photographer and art critic.
Throughout her academic career, she took part in various workshops and residencies, including a photogravure residency at the Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation in Palma de Mallorca, led by Juan Lara of Ogami Press, as well as at the CIEC Foundation, the International Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Betanzos, A Coruña.
She furthered her studies in Photography and Digital Imaging at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, where she developed documentary photography projects under the guidance of Robert Ellis and David Monahan. In 2019, she was invited to be part of the roundtable discussion, led by Becks Butler, on ‘Performing the Post-Human Subject in Photography’ during the PhotoIreland Festival held at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Ireland. Following the festival, her project was featured in Visual Artists Ireland magazine.
Since 2019, Francisca has worked full-time as a Graphic Designer in London, collaborating with branding and editorial design studios.
In 2024, she was one of the winners of the BOP 24 Photobook Dummy, the annual photobook festival by the Martin Parr Foundation and the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol, United Kingdom. She was shortlisted for the Photographic Publication Grant by the 18th Can Basté Photography Forum in Barcelona, Spain. Recently, her work has been selected to be part of the Photobook Workshop led by Yumi Goto, Teun van der Heijden, and Sandra van der Doelen at Reminders Photography Stronghold in Tokyo, Japan.
STATEMENT
Francisca’s work revolves around documentary photography and collage. She is deeply dedicated to documenting the subtle details that define everyday life. Her photography work aims to weave together personal stories with larger societal themes, serving as a medium for both introspection and connection. Through her lens, she explores the complexities of identity, human relationships, and community, fostering a profound sense of connection with her subjects.
Through collage, she finds a tactile approach to addressing themes such as personal identity, feminism, and gender differences, always with a touch of humor and a critical perspective.