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Brian Van Lau

Brian Van Lau is a self-taught photographer currently based between Honolulu, HI and Los Angeles, CA.

His work is about finding fictitious evidence. 

He is available for commissions, assignments,  lectures, and print inquiries.


brian@brianvanlau.com


Founder of arcanite-pictures.

Select Awards:

Aperture x Google Creator Lab Grant (Recipient)

Hopper Prize (Shortlisted)

Innovate Grant Award (Winner)

Aperture Portfolio Prize (Runner-up)

New York Times Portfolio Review (Selected Participant)

Urbanautica Institute Awards (Winner)

Critical Mass, Photolucida (Finalist)

Open Doors Photo Prize (Shortlist)

Lucie Foundation, ChromaXLuxe Fine Arts Scholarship, (Shortlisted)


Artist's Talks/Lectures:

Northwind Art School, November 2023


Artist Books: 

Blood is on the Rails, artist's book published by Arcanite Pictures (edition of 30, handmade, April 2024)

The Skull-Sized Kingdom (Second Edition), zine published by Arcanite Pictures (edition of 50, August 2023)

Olympic, self-published zine (edition of 30)

We Shared the Same Color That Evening, self-published (edition of 15)

A New Hope, self-published (edition of 20)


In print:

Upstreams Deadfalls, Deadfall Press, 2023

Booooooooom Magic Hour

Urbanautica Catalogue


Commissions:

The Atlantic "Los Angeles' Ash Problem," January 19th, 2025

The Atlantic "The Place I Grew Up is Gone," January 16th, 2025

New York Times "How to Keep Your Own Soul Safe in the Dark," December 9th, 2024

New York Times "Sleepless in Seattle as a Hellcat Roars Through the Streets," May 29th, 2024

New York Times "Is It Possible to Buy a House in Your 20s? Yes, but Only With Some Help.," August 5th, 2023

Willamette Weekly "Oregon’s Parole Board Is Close to Releasing an Aging Contract Killer. Should His Targets Still Fear Him?" January 11th, 2023