VANESSA ROCA FORNÉ








Never Neverland [2016-2024]
Text
Photos
Dummy
Installations



Tocar mare i fuig [2023-ong]
I. Enversada
II. Lo Delta






























About                                        

Vanessa Roca Forné (b. 1990, La Ràpita) is a visual artist and educator based in Barcelona. Her work, primarily rooted in photography, takes an autoethnographic approach to life transitions, identity and the sense of belonging. Her practice focuses on the relationships between individuals and their surroundings, materialized through gestures and the scenic conditions that emerge from these interactions. By amplifying personal narratives, she engages with the complexities of human experience and integrates dissident sexuality into broader social conversations.

Her project Never Neverland became part of the National Archive of Catalonia after being acquired through the 2023 National Photography Plan. The work has received four awards at the 8th Art Photo Bcn and has been exhibited in venues such as Espai Fotogràfic Can Basté (Barcelona), SCAN Festival (Tarragona), PhotoAlicante (Alicante), Menorca Doc Fest (Menorca), Centrum Kultury Zamek (Wroclaw), and La Centrale 22 (Paris).

She contributes to academic discourse, participating in discussions on self-referentiality and intimacy in artistic practice, while also conducting research on visual literacy and image pedagogy in early childhood education.

She actively contributes to academic discourse, participating in talks on self-referentiality and intimacy in artistic practice, and has conducted research on visual literacy and image pedagogy in early childhood education. She is currently co-leading community projects at El Catalejo, focusing on situated practice, participatory dynamics, and image-making as a tool with a commitment to providing access to visual culture.


Contact details:
vrocaforne@gmail.com
@vanessaroca
Barcelona, Spain



Awards and Scholarships
Biennial Grant for Community Culture Projects and Social Transformation, Department of Culture, Generalitat of Catalonia, 2024, Winner (SP)
SCAN Tarragona, Talent Latent (central exhibition), 2023, Artist Selection (SP)
PhotoAlicante International Photography, Tiempos para celebrar, 2023, Artist Selection (SP)
El Observatorio, Scholarship in Storytelling and Final Formats, 2022, Winner (SP)
Fer Foc II Castelló, Professional Photography Fair, 2022, Artist Selection (SP)
Visionados Art Photo Bcn, Winner of Art Photo Bcn 2021 Award, Wall Award of Copia Lab, LABASAD Photo Award, and IEFC Award (SP)
Barciff (Barcelona Indie Film Festival), 2021, Artist Selection  (SP)
Young Creators Scholarship, Fundación Antonio Gala, 2021, Finalist (SP)
16th Fòrum Fotogràfic Can Basté, 2021, Finalist (SP)
Portfolio Review with Donna Ferrato, Formentera Fotográfica, 2021, Artist Selection (SP)
Best Cinematography at the Gala de las Estrellas, 2013, Universidad Austral (AR)
Third Prize for Solidarity Journalism, 2011, Fundación Hazloposible (SP)
Tahina-Can Bancaja Expedition Scholarship, 2020, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona  (SP)

Solo and Group Exhibitions
Never Neverland, Espai Fotogràfic Can Basté, 2023, Solo exhibition, Barcelona (SP)
Never Neverland in Talent Latent, SCAN Tarragona, 2023, Group exhibition, Tarragona (SP)
Never Neverland in Tiempo que celebrar, PhotoAlicante, 2023, Group exhibition, Alicante (SP)
Never Neverland, Menorca Doc Fest, 2022, Solo exhibition, Menorca (SP)
Never Neverland, Art Photo Bcn, 2022, Solo exhibition, Barcelona (SP)
Never Neverland, Copia Lab, 2022, Solo exhibition, Barcelona (SP)
Take up space, Tymczasem Gallery - Centrum Kultury Zamek, 2022, Group exhibition, Wroclaw (PL)
La maison est de peau, LaCentrale22, 2021, Installation, Paris (FR)
Ínsula, FotoLimo Festival, 2020, Group exhibition and Publication, Portbou (SP)
El Salto, Fine Art Photography Festival of Igualada, 2016, Group exhibition, Igualada (SP)

Printed Publication
SCAN, Traces de llum. La memòria fotogràfica, catalogue with texts by curator Érika Goyarrola, 2023

Collections
National Photography Archive Collection, Generalitat of Catalonia, 2023
Private Collection, PhotoAlicante, Alicante, 2023

Workshops and Lectures (selected)
Nosaltres no tenim por, nosaltres som: LGBTQ+ historical memory project through archival research (ongoing)
El barri és dels infants, Espai Fotogràfic Can Basté + Caixa d’Eines (2023, Workshop and Exhibition)
De lo tangible a lo invisible, Fundación Antonio Pérez + PhotoEspaña (2022, Workshop, Cuenca)
Com a casa, Fundación Carulla + Escola La Mina (2022, Workshop and Exhibition, Barcelona)
La intimidad como sujeto de la obra artística, Espai Català-Roca (2021, Lecture, Barcelona)

Academic Education
Bachelor in Early Childhood Education, 2020 - 2024, VIU (online). Bachelor’s Thesis: Programs and Methodologies for Stimulating Visual Literacy in Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Review
Narrative Photography and Final Formats, 2023 - 2024, El Observatorio (SP)
Master in New Documentary Photography, 2021 - 2022, LaBasad (online)
Analog Experimental Cinema, 2022, IEFC (SP)
Author Documentary Photography, 2015 - 2016, El Observatorio (SP)
Bachelor in Social Communication (exchange), 2012 - 2013, Universidad Austral (AR)
Bachelor in Journalism, 2009 - 2013, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (SP)