Murae Van Reede Van Oudtshoorn is a London-based South African fine art photographer, specialising in camera-less photography. She holds a BA Hons in Photography from the Durban University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where her creative journey began. In 2001, Murae moved to the UK, initially stepping away from photography to pursue a career in advertising. After several years in the industry, she rediscovered her passion for photography and began experimenting with alternative photographic processes.
In 2020, a life-altering accident left Murae with a concussion and spinal cord injury. Forced to return to South Africa for recovery, she found herself in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdowns. During this period of physical and emotional healing, Murae turned to chemigrams, an experimental, camera-less technique that blends light, chemistry, and creativity in unique ways. This process allowed her to embrace the unpredictability of the medium, while reflecting on personal themes of change, fragility, and impermanence. Her work during this time became deeply personal, as she explored the fragility of memory and identity in the wake of her own concussion and her mother’s battle with dementia.
In 2019, Murae’s portrait photography was featured in the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London, marking a significant milestone in her career. She continues to push the boundaries of alternative photography, experimenting with new techniques and exploring how her work can evolve in response to ongoing personal and artistic change.
Awards
Honorable Mention, IPA International Photography Awards, 2024
Awards
Honorable Mention, IPA International Photography Awards, 2024
Longlisted, VAO Visual Art Open, 2024
Honorable Mention, IPA International Photography Awards, 2020
Honorable Mention, IPA International Photography Awards, 2011
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Cluster Photography & Print Fair, Curtain Call, London 2025
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, 2019