Residents of venuz

Hey readers!! I'm Lana, one of your co creative directors of venuz, I'm unbelievably excited to be introducing you to venuz and so grateful that you're taking the time to join us on this creative journey. Let me introduce myself - I'm 22 year old and I've just finished my masters in Graphic design at Leeds arts following my BA Hons in Architecture at CSM.

The design side of my body of work aims to blur the boundaries between visual culture, politics, and art. Through mixed-media collage and graphic experimentation, I explore how design can become an active voice in cultural and social discourse - a medium that both reflects and reshapes the world around it.

My master's research, in the form of my dissertation, examined the dialogue between colonisation and Indigenous visual language in South Africa, revealing how inherited imagery and cultural memory continue to influence modern identity and expression.

Now, I'm channelling these ideas into a new Arts & Visual Culture Magazine - a living archive and collaborative platform that celebrates the dialogue between design, writing, and culture.

Hey venuz readers! I'm Alice, a fashion photographer and stylist, passionate about crafting visionary narratives that blur the lines between our world and the ones we dream up. I have just graduated with a BA in Fashion Photography and now specialise in fashion imagery that fuses contemporary surrealism with the avant-garde.

I view fashion photography as a portal into fictional realms-spaces not bound by the logic of our world. My work explores the fluidity of organic silhouettes and the ethereal glow of painterly light. Through styling, lighting, colour and makeup I create otherworldly visuals that reflect imagined futures. In my project Posthuman Dreamscape, I crafted a garment that resembled liquid metal on skin, challenging physical norms and transforming the model to become a hybrid entity.

I've always been drawn to the space where art, culture and identity collide. Fashion is a tool for telling stories, it's where the human and non-human meet, evolve and rethink what beauty and identity can become. Working editorially has shown me how fashion sits at the heart of culture: it moves with us, challenges us and gives voice to the new. I'm excited to collate and spotlight the artists, designers and storytellers who are building the next wave of visual culture.

Hey venuz readers, welcome to the holiest of magazines! I'm Anya, 21, from Norwich, and lucky enough to be an editor for venuz and part of this talented team. A little bit about me: I have just graduated with a BA hons in International Relations so yes, I love a little political conversation around the dinner table or in the pub. Reading and writing have always been a source of inspiration for me, and since completing an internship with ELLE magazine, I've been eager to return to the world of magazines.

My dissertation focused on the extent colonialism caused homophobia and transphobia in colonised states, as my interest in those marginalised is one I cannot abstain from, leading me to find powerful activists using their artforms to create change. Empowering people to express themselves through creativity, art, and culture - in all its many nuances - is influential, something I care about deeply.

Currently living in Copenhagen, I seek to open my mind to new experiences, inspired by a vibrant city full of originality, opportunity and life. This is only the beginning of the exciting travels I see for my future, venuz coming with me along the way.

Hey everyone! I'm Charlotte, I'm a 22-year-old actress and writer from Norwich, and now, I'm an editor for the one and only venuz! Having just graduated with a BA Hons in English and Drama from Queen Mary Uni of London, I've embarked on my most exciting adventure yet... I've moved to Copenhagen to see the scope of creativity this city has to offer (and of course aiding the creation of this amazing new magazine).

My love resides in the arts, anything theatre, music, live art, fine art - you name it! If it has a message, if it tells a story or shares a collective or individual's emotion, I'm here for it. My baby is my dissertation - as I'm sure a lot of you feel the same about yours - but you'll read all about that in a later release of venuz...

Over my degree, I tailored my studies to focus on the socio-political side of literature and was lucky enough to learn about a variety of cultures through the art of writing. I discovered that books are the pillars of our history, they immortalise not only the events of the past, but more importantly, the feelings of those moments; through literature we have preserved our humanity. This is why I'm overjoyed to be a part of venuz, our own little hub to commemorate all of your brilliant works, thoughts and feelings.

Hey venuz readers! I'm Maya Nagra, 22, a South-Asian and Hispanic multidisciplinary writer from South East London. My work delves deeply into identity, self-discovery, and what it means to belong. I write both fiction and non-fiction, and I have a passion for blending words with visual media like photography to tell stories that feel alive.

I first discovered my love for writing while studying Theatre at the Brit School, which later led me to Leeds Arts University, where I studied Creative Writing. Whilst living in Leeds, I've worked with LEEDS 2023, Leeds Light Night, co-hosted the first Leeds Arts Writers' Symposium, and seen my work featured in NEST Magazine.

Right now, I'm continuing to work on my play Back To The Motherland, inspired by my mum's childhood, which explores culture, class, and sexuality through the eyes of a young girl growing up in South East London. I also recently co-created Forgotten Trades, a photo book celebrating the craft and creativity of local tradespeople.

My creative journey has always been about reconnection - to my Indian heritage, to community, and to the many parts of myself that make up who I am. Writing has become my way of exploring all those layers, and I'm excited to see where venuz takes that journey next!