Lafayette photographer Anne-Marie Auer’s background in dance, fashion, and travel enlighten her work as a film and digital photographer. Anne-Marie was awarded an artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux, located in France, for two weeks in August of 2024 – decorated with an Emerging Artist scholarship and the Denis Diderot grant. Her collection “Golden Veil” will be published as the cover story/collection of Mob Journal, a fashion magazine, and a 10 page spread in November of 2023. Anne-Marie’s vast experience as a solo-traveler enlightens her photography deeply. Her travels have made her keenly aware of human diversity and natural modes of expression and being. Much of her film photography seeks to share awe-inspiring spaces that have truly become her “friends” because of the intimate time spent with the space in solitude and stillness. From all these experiences, Anne-Marie has cultivated the power of sensitivity and discernment for moments where light, nature, history, and architecture demand and conspire to be captured through film. Anne-Marie began film photography in 2021 and continues to experiment with film and digital to develop her craft and grow in deeper appreciation for this delicate and authentic medium.
Who makes up your art circle?
I would be amiss not to mention the community that is Acadiana Fashion Week. It was with this group of artists that I found the confidence to pursue photography outside of something just for myself. Also the collective that is Bare Walls is a strong influence within my art circle. But the main ring would have to be my dear dear friends, all of whom create passionately in a myriad of mediums, from floral design, to composing albums, to writing tucked away prose during the early hours before work. These women inspire me endlessly and curate so much of photography.
How do you expand your art circle?
Believe it or not, but through a lot of Instagram DMs! I work a corporate 9-5 and am working on my MBA at night, so I do not have a lot of free time to create or get out of the house much. But somehow I find artists and artists find me through social media and we create these gorgeous online relationships filled with value, praise, and creativity! I’m hoping to one day figure out this whole work-life balance thing and be more involved within the artist community events hosted around town.
What value do you see in having a creative community?
A creative community curates a space where all niches feel safe and seen, while providing the space to comfortably play. Artistry can be incredibly isolating and lonely at times, but having a community around to support even the tiniest thing means the entire world to me. It’s also imperative for growth as they bring about new perspectives, stories, and backgrounds to your work and world view. Having people that understand your intricate, yet crazy trains of thought is so beautiful. Even though we all practice different things we can all understand similar struggles and provide guidance and encouragement where we can.
How does your artistic approach contribute to your community? I found that there was a lack of younger Fine Arts photographers in town beyond landscape, and decided, “why not give it a go?” I was really drawn to paintings and how delicate, yet masterful they were and wanted to see that infused into photography. This is something that I still continuously strive for. I tend to shoot for the feminine eye and hope to capture pure emotion in a still to tell a dynamic story. It also helps that we live in one of the most beautiful states to have as a glorious background. I started creating art for myself, but I have found that many were craving this type of art just as much as I was.
Our weekly Art Circle series profiles artists throughout the community and is sponsored in part by Lafayette Visitor Enterprise Fund managed by Lafayette Travel
