Dr. Madeline Yale Preston is a UK-based curator, editor, writer and strategic adviser with over 20 years’ experience in photography and contemporary art. She holds a PhD from UAL (2023) on curating as a producer of art-historical knowledge and the ethical curation of identity.

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She provides curatorial and strategic mentoring to emerging, mid-career and established artists, supporting artistic development, critical positioning and career planning. Her work includes developing ideas and narratives; authoring and editing texts; supporting residency, opportunity and grant applications; photo editing and sequencing; and building portfolios for exhibition, publication and reviews.

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Madeline has advised on projects, supported artists and delivered talks and programmes with institutions including Arts Council England, Asia Society, Bonhams, British Art Network, Der Greif, Fabrica, Fotofest, iniva, Magnum, Paul Mellon Centre, National Portrait Gallery, Photo Oxford, Red Eye, Stuart Hall Library, Tate Modern, The Barbican Theatre, The Photographers’ Gallery, UCL, University of Oxford, Unlimited and V&A. She also provides mentoring and access support to artists with needs and disabilities.

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She has curated 35+ exhibitions in the UK, US and UAE and is a photo and content editor who has also authored numerous articles, chapters and catalogue essays.​ She has reviewed more than 6,000 portfolios at events such as FotoFest, Atlanta Celebrates Photography and SPE. She currently serves as juror for the Centre for British Photography Realisation Grants (since 2023) and Photolucida (annually since 2009).

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Madeline is active on Houston Center for Photography’s founders’ circle/advisory board, having previously served as its executive director and curator and later as adjunct and guest curator. She served as trustee for Hundred Heroines and since 2023 has been a trustee for the Centre for British Photography. Earlier in her career, she was gallery director for the Evans Gallery/Photographic Estate of Todd Webb, now the Todd Webb Archive.

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In addition to her PhD, Madeline holds an MA in Photographic Studies (distinction) from Norwich University of the Arts, a certificate in art history (hons) from Sotheby’s Institute of Art London and a BA (hons) from Skidmore.

 

She lives in London with her husband, twin children and is a proud born-and-bred Mainer.

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To work with Madeline, please use the contact form below.