Based in Manchester, England, Jae is an enthusiastic, determined, and highly motivated creative working across a range of disciplines, with over seven years of creative experience and a personal focus on visual art, new media works, and illustration, and holding a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Fashion Art Direction from Manchester School of Art/Manchester Fashion Institute.
Their practice stems from the complexities of the human experience, exploring representations of the mundane and aiming to showcase aspects of modern life that often go unnoticed, presenting them in whimsical ways that encourage viewers to seek out more joy in small parts of daily life. Their ideas and ethos stem from struggles with mental health and neurodivergency as a young person, and the reclamation of childlike curiosity in adult life, informing their work in ways that prioritise connection, community, and playfulness.
Jae’s empathetic and understanding nature is prevalent in their work in front-line student support at Manchester Metropolitan University, and has contributed significantly to their previous success in managerial roles within student accommodation. They have also held roles as production and rigging crew and as marketing manager for a sports and nutrition brand, creating marketing materials and building strong visual identity as well as facilitating live events and documentation of these.
Alongside their full-time student support role, they are also a mentor for Arts Emergency, working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them access the arts industry and pursue creative careers and/or higher education. They are passionate about helping to provide others with opportunities and support that they did not receive, backed by an understanding of how this can contribute to their future success.
Their current focus is on experimentation and creating a varied portfolio of work that emphasises their strong skillsets across multiple practices, from graphic design to spacial design and curation, from event photography/videography to self-publishing and bookmaking.
Jae is also co-director and founder of youmatter, an events collective dedicated to creating immersive dance nights and exhibitions that strongly encourage the idea of active participation, involving attendees in the visual design of the spaces and shaping the enviroment around movement and community. They are also part of a freelance photography and videography collective, capturing events and exhibitions around the UK and creating coherent content underpinned by a developed understanding of storytelling and visual communication.
Recent clients include Notts Zine Fest, Nice One, kaoti, The Manchester Metropolitan University, Mukes, Myth Manchester, The Derby Brewery Arms, Sweettooth Presents, and Llou’s.
May 2025 - Present: Manchester Metropolitan University
Providing assistance to prospective, current, and previous students of Manchester Metropolitan University with a wide range of queries, ranging from assessment and exam guidance to studying abroad and placement years, from accommodation advice to financial support. First line of contact for students and equipped to resolve their issues where possible, and signpost to appropriate departments for more specialised help. Contacting students via face-to-face meetings, live chats, phone lines and emails, as well as managing student records and collaboration across the wider scope of the university departments for more complex requests. Assistance with assessment management, visa and international teams, and student record operations departments.
Nominee for Manchester Metropolitan Staff Awards 2026, for innovation in introducing accessible communication channels to Professional Services departments, facilitation of arts workshops for staff and student wellbeing, and continued commitment to inclusivity and student support.
June 2026: Manchester School of Art
Supporting on installation, curation, technical set-up, and providing assistance with crowd flow, wayfinding, and health & safety guidance.
May 2026: kaoti
Creative direction, filming/videography, photography and editing of music video for electro-pop artist and producer kaoti. Release date TBC.
September 2025 - Present: Arts Emergency
Mentor for a young person from an underrepresented background, providing guidance on higher education, career paths, exploration of practice, and artist branding.
June 2025 - Present: Dotty Poppy Collective
Contributing artist to Dotty Poppy Collective, a queer-owned independent art store in Afflecks Palace, Manchester. Frequent collaboration on events.
June 2025 - December 2025: NQ Photo Studio
Held a shared art studio within the building; assistance with photo studio management, client bookings, marketing, and admin.
October 2024 - May 2025: NUCO Travel
Seasonal contract at a ski & snowboard travel company with a focus on student snowsports. Provided continual support for passengers on trips via phone lines, email, and live chat and managed bookings through an internally-built custom software. Also collaborated with the larger teams to organise events, created and distributed promotional materials (such as emails with latest deals on trips and social media posts) and internal communications, and arranged bookings for the next ski season. Facilitated communication with overseas suppliers in both English and French.
July 2023 - September 2024: Unite Students
Provided front-facing support to students within a 520-bed accommodation complex, ensuring a positive living and study experience whilst managing room sales and lettings for Unite Students. Liaised with students, guarantors, and prospective customers via phone and email, maintaining a friendly and approachable attitude. Joined during a critical period in the academic year and contributed to the successful turnaround and management of rooms during check-out, leading to promotion from Team Member to Team Leader within five months. Subsequently managed a team of seven staff members and oversaw overall operations at Bridgewater Heights, developing skills in people management, rota creation, scheduling, HR administration, and cross-city liaison with senior management and sales teams. Also acted as events manager for the building, organising and promoting student events through local business partnerships, budget planning, stock management, and the creation of marketing materials for print and on-site promotion.
March 2017 - June 2019: The Presentation Group
Assisted with construction and setup of biomedical conferences for various companies such as Pfizer and Chameleon. Assembled sets, cameras, and lighting rigs, and acted as photographer of the events for feature on the company websites and use on promotional material.
July 2016 - October 2018: LiveWell Health
Photographed live gym and sports events, and created graphics and logos for use on the company site. Frequently updated the company’s blog and social media accounts to maintain high search rankings and an active company profile.
September 2018 - July 2023: BA (Hons) Fashion Art Direction
Achieved a First in final theory paper on the role of women in East Asian media; this paper can be read here. Graduated in July 2023.
July 2022: Japanese Language Proficiency Test
Passed ‘N5’ (CEFR A2) level exam in listening, reading and writing Japanese language.
September 2016 - June 2018: Birmingham Metropolitan College
Achieved distinction in UAL Level 3 Art & Design Diploma and grade B in A Level Fine Art; also achieved grade B in AS Level Drama, and AS Level Media Studies.
September 2011 - June 2016: Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Achieved grades A*- C across 9 GCSEs, including A* in English Literature, and A in Religious Studies, Drama, and English Language.
- Community (title TBC), July 2026. Published via The Queer Collective.
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IV, June 2026. Self-published.
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Mother Culture, June 2026. Self-published.
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An Abusive Relationship With My Computer, May 2026. Self-published.
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Objekter å stå ved [Objects For Standing Near], May 2026. Self-published.
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JUST MAKE THE F*CKING ZINE, March 2026. Self-published.
- BASSFACE 02, January 2026. Self-published.
- IBIZA FOREVER: Notes on transiency from the party capital of the world, November 2025. Self-published.
- Welcome Home, November 2025. Written in 2019; self-published in 2025.
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BASSFACE 01, October 2025. Self-published.
- IV, May 2018. Self-published.
- April 2018: Birmingham Metropolitan College Student Design Award recipient. Designing visual communication material for usage around the institution.
- November 2017: Fully funded research trip/exchange with Berufsbildende Schule Betzdorf-Kirchen in Siegen & Betzdorf, Germany, as part of Erasmus arts mobility scheme.
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April 2017: Fully funded research trip/exchange with IES Ruiz de Alda in San Javier, Spain,
as part of Erasmus arts mobility scheme. Collaboration with Museo de San Javier.
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Full Enhanced DBS Certificate available upon request.
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Basic First Aid and Mental Health First Aid trained.
- Conversational Japanese and French language level. Basic Norwegian and Spanish language levels.
2027
The Crossing (solo exhibition; organiser and curator. Date TBC)
Manchester, UK
April 2027
fragments, together (digital group exhibition; organiser and curator)
Worldwide
November 2026
Oslo Zine Fest (group exhibition, workshop facilitation & talk)
Oslo, Norway
October 2026
GONE NORF (title TBC, group exhibition)
Manchester, UK
July 2026 - August 2026
AngeIIs of HTML5 (group exhibition) Worldwide
June 2026
PRAXIS
Manchester, UK
Myth Midsummer
Manchester, UK
May 2026
RIPOSTE
London, UK
Nice One At The Club 2 (group exhibition)
Manchester, UK
April 2026
PHOTO EXPO: An Ode To Manchester’s Rave Scene (group exhibition)
Manchester, UK
February 2026
Coccinelle Club (group exhibition)
Manchester, UK
T3A (group exhibition)
Manchester, UK
September 2025
Nice One Turns 2 (group exhibiton)
Manchester, UK
- October 2025: ‘Explore’ strand (£5,000) - Immersive Arts UK, for the development of ‘youmatter’ : an immersive arts & dance collective (shortlist)
- March 2025: Manchester Artist Bursary 24/25 recipient - Something To Aim For, Registered Charity No. 1181856
- April 2018: Birmingham Metropolitan College Student Design Award recipient. Designing visual communication material for usage around the institution.
November 2026
- Oslo Zine Fest, Oslo, Norway / Workshop facilitation & talk
October 2026
- GONE NORF, Manchester / Exhibiting artist
August 2026
- Barnsley Zine Fair, Sheffield
- Lancaster Art Fair, Lancaster
July 2026
- Notts Big Queer Market, Nottingham
- AngeIIs of HTML5, worldwide / Exhibiting artist
June 2026
- PRAXIS, Manchester
- Stockport Zine and Print Fair, Greater Manchester
- Press & Destress workshop, MMU / Facilitator
- Myth Midsummer, Manchester / Workshop facilitator
May 2026
- FREAK QUEER RAVE, Manchester
- Press & Destress workshop, MMU / Facilitator
- Withy Hearts Arts, Manchester
- RIPOSTE, London
- Nice One at the Club, Chorlton / Exhibiting artist and stallholder
- Studio Greenly’s Spring Queer Market, Leeds
April 2026
- PHOTO EXPO: An Ode To Manchester’s Rave Scene, Manchester / Exhibiting artist
- koti party playground, Manchester
- Liverpool Queer Fest, Liverpool
March 2026
- Pixelate Manchester
February 2026
- T3A MCR / Exhibiting artist and photographer
- Coccinelle Club, Manchester / Exhibiting artist and stallholder
- Barnsley Zine Fair, Sheffield
January 2026
[zzz]
December 2025
- Proudly Made Xmas Market, Macclesfield
- Queermas x Moonbuns, Nottingham
- Festive Weekender @ Projekts, Manchester
November 2025
- Notts Zine Fest, Nottingham / Stallholder and videographer
- Manchester Community Pride, Salford
- Blue Moon Christmas Market, Birmingham
October 2025
- Pubshroom, Manchester / Photographer
- cheXbox x MMU LGBT Society: Drag by Daylight Ball, Manchester
- FREAK QUEER RAVE, Manchester
- Slay @ DBA Halloween, Manchester / Photographer
September 2025
- ALT Pride x MUD, Manchester
- Platt Fields Art Market, Manchester
- Open Art Spaces: Portobello Road, London
- Nice One Turns 2, Manchester / Exhibiting artist and stallholder
August 2025
- Hot Bed Press: Summer Print Fair, Salford
July 2025
- Proudly Made Market, Macclesfield
- Press & Destress workshop, MMU / Facilitator
- Little Fox Craft Market, Leeds
- Manchester Queer Art Market x Queer As F*ck @ Feel Good Club, Manchester
- Blue Moon Market, Birmingham
June 2025
- Prestatyn Pride, Wales
- Platt Fields Art Market, Manchester
- Press & Destress workshop, MMU / Facilitator