Megan Bainbridge is a lens-based artist from Southern Maine. She graduated in 2023 with a dual degree in Photography (B.F.A.) and Sociology (B.A.) from the University of Hartford. The artist creates her photographic work using 35mm and medium-format film, at times incorporating media such as acrylic paint and cyanotype. When collaging, she draws from an archive of both personal and borrowed imagery.
As a fine artist, she explores personal and sociological topics through various avenues. Her thesis exhibition at the Hartford Art School's Joseloff Gallery explored topics of dual nationality, drawing from her family’s photo archive. Her solo experimental color darkroom exhibition at the University of Hartford's Mortensen Library, "Touring Tourism," considered the topic of tourism from her perspective as a German American. She continues to build upon her tourism series, most recently revisiting her relationship with tourism as a person who grew up in Southern Maine.
Two of her ongoing series are research-inspired and advocacy-driven. Specifically, her "Reading the Back" and "Phone Testing" series, respectively, critique the lack of regulation in the United States for harmful food additives and cell phone radio-frequency testing standards. Bainbridge uses these artist statements to educate others on these issues and includes citations to the research articles she references.
She uses her "What It Feels Like to Care" digital collage series to respond to current sociopolitical issues and her "Nonsensical Nonsense" series to create work intuitively. Megan values meaningful personal connection, intellectually stimulating conversation, and speaking out to spread goodness in the world.
Coming from a low-income household, Bainbridge intentionally commodifies reproductions of her artwork at a reasonable price point. She believes that artists should receive compensation for the work that they make before they die. She also believes that art ownership shouldn't be limited to billionaires or people who view art as an investment; art owners should be people who love art.
For commission-based work, Megan primarily photographs portraits of candid and posed subjects, as well as musicians at work. Her commission-centered photography portfolio is available under "work" on her portfolio website. Inquiries regarding scheduling a shoot should be sent via email. In addition, Megan has experience as an analog photography instructor. Currently, she teaches a Cyanotype Workshop at Factory 3 in Portland, Maine.
