max ferguson
london
deadfall
whistling for owls
whiplash memorial _wip
tower block _wip
turbulence _wip
books
projects
about
Since graduating in 2012, Max has worked across countless projects within the photographic and creative industries. He has collaborated with people at the very top of their careers as well as grassroots organisations to support those at the start of theirs. Community building, education, and creating spaces for photography are key aspects of his practice. Here are a few examples of the projects Max is proudest of.
Granta Magazine
Max has been the photo editor of Granta Magazine since 2021 comissioning and publishing photography. He has worked with photographers and writers including: Nan Goldin, Teju Cole, Roni Horn, Esther Kinsky, Rosalind Fox Solomon, Lynne Tillman. Nicole R. Fleetwood, Stephen Gill, Kalpesh Lathigra, Raphaela Rosella, Rahim Fortune, Tereza Červeňová, Muhammad Salah, Salvatore Vitale, Feng Li and many more.
Lecturing & education
Max has been lecturing in photography at the London College of Communication since 2018. He has taught accross a wide range of BA and MA photography courses with experience in writing and developing educational programmes for both online and in classroom delivery. Working closely with colleagues including Lalu Delbracio, Derek Wiafe, Adrian Wood, Krasimira Butseva, and Ibrahim Azab, Max is passionite about helping students bridge the gap between education and industry, and delivering inclusive and exciting learning exeriences.
Splash and Grab Magazine
Splash & Grab is a photography magazine that was started by Max in 2013. He was quickly joined by his close friends Syndey Cunningham, Finbar Lenehan and Dan Spackman. The last print issue was released in 2020 and since then Max, alongside curator Hannah Geddes, has continued to publish photography online and run special projects in physical spaces.
Splash and Grab Studio Residency
Dreams States Exhibition
Splash & Grab Studios is a residency programme organised in partnership with Bow Arts. Curated by Hannah Geddes and Max, ten early career artists and creatives were given a free studio space in central London for six months. Dream States presented a unique WIP exhibitions of young London creatives from the Splash & Grab Residency: Different Gravy Studio (Alex Picasso & Louie Stewart), Hayleigh Longman, Jannell Adufo, Lulu Wang, Max Ferguson, Myles Bailey. Sana Badri and Toe Press (Marcie Lewis & Tati El Mallah) Tolú Elusade. A talks programme on the opening day of Dream States inlcuded speakers: Lola Olufemi, Amak Mahmoodian, Vasundhara Mathu, Lulu Wang *and Jessica Wang. There was a free zine making workshop from Toe Press and a free studio portraits being taken by Different Gravy Studio.
FIGURE.8
Figure.8 is a collaborative exhibition and long-term community mentorship programme. Founded by Sadie Catt, Lewis Khan, Billy Barraclough, and Max, each photographer invited an emerging photographer at an early stage in their career: Myles Morgan Bailey, Abena Appiah, Khatun, and Sapphire Stewart. Alongside producer Rhiannon Bowden, they became Figure.8. United by a shared desire for an intimate and supportive community within the photography industry, this collective of UK-based image-makers created a collaborative space that fostered both growth and connection. The work resulting from this journey was showcased in the inaugural Figure.8 exhibition at Campbell Works, 2024.
Klättermusen
In August 2024, Max was selected by outdoor wear brand Klättermusen to join a group of outstanding creatives on a trip to the Norwegian Arctic Circle to hike, camp, fish, and celebrate craftsmanship. While in the Arctic, he took the opportunity to extend his trip and continue working on his project, Turbulence. In January 2025, Max continued his collaboration with Klättermusen, exhibiting a work-in-progress version of Turbulence at the brand’s flagship store in London.
Teaching Magazines
Max wrote and developed a collaborative publication unit for first year students on the BA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography course at LCC. Students made new individual photography projects while simultaneously learning design, copy-editing, sequencing, printing and binding skills. Their final hand in was a magazine that they made together, either working with external printers, or making the whole publication in house at LCC. The unit ran successfully for four years.
pbc interview
In this interview with Max and Matt Martin they look through Deadfall and compare it to a dummy version of the book. They discuss the design choices in the sequence and layout of Deadfall, as well as more technical parts such as the print production process, and Max’s motivations to make photography books and self-publish them.
Deadfall exhibitons
Deadfall was exhibted twice as solo-shows in 2024, first at the Photobook Cafe, London and then at Village, Manchester, to coincide with book launches. This was an oportunity for Max to continue his experiements into exhibiting sketchbooks, research and handprints. As well as the artworks which were all handmade by Max, he also handbuilt and glazed all of the frames for the exhibition.
on purpose, serchia gallery
On Purpose (2022) was a group exhibition at Serchia Gallery, Bristol. The exhibtion presented the works of eight photographers and was curated by Christine Marie Serchia. Max Exhibited some early works in progress. The works he showed eventually ended up being some of the first images for Deadfall.
port magazine
Max was the Photography Director of Port Magazine between 2017 and 2022. While at Port he oversaw the commissioning and production of cover shoots with major photographers; organised multi-brand fashion and still life shoots; and nurtured tallent, giving many photographers their first paid commissions. Over the 5 years Max developed relationships with photographers including: Liz Johnson Artur, Rahim Fortune, Donavon Smallwood, Jessica Madavo, Jem Southam, Guen Fiore, Suzie Howell, Kalpesh Lathigra and Jack Davison.
FT Weekend Magazine
Max has had a long and varied relationship with the Financial Times. Originally employed as a freelance photographer he quickly moved to picture desk of the magazine where, under the guidane of Emma Bowkett and Josh Lustig, he became skilled at picture research and commissioning photography. Max has also written for the FT Weekend Magazine and worked accross all picture desks of the FT Weekend.
A2
A2 (2020) is a fold-out, double-sided poster conceived by Max and art director Carlo Apostoli during lockdown. Showcasing the work of 22 graduating photography students who went without their university degree shows, it was printed in an edition of 200 using traditional letterpress. Created as a call to the photography industry to support graduates facing one of the toughest career entry points in generations, A2 was distributed free of charge to industry professionals who could hire, feature, or mentor young photographers.
rocket science magazine interview
Alongside his long-term colaborator, freind and mentor, Emma Bowkett, Max was interviewed for Rocket Science magazine. The converstaion took place during lockdown, and is a long-form discussion on teaching and creating intamacy through photography. Emma and Max were photographed by their friend Cian Oba-Smith, you can see the portraits and read the interview here: Rocket Science.
Jerwood / Photoworks catalogue
Max was invited to edit the 2020 Jerwood/Photoworks Award catalogue for the event of the then annual exhibition at the Jerwood space in London. He commissioned new writing by Elsa Coustou and Ekow Eshun about the work of Theo Simpson and Silvia Rosi. Max collaborated with designers Varv Varv on the catalouge.
Construction
Construction (2019) was a two-artist exhibition showcasing new photographic works by Suzie Howell and Marguerite Bornhauser. Curated by Max and Hannah Geddes, it took place in two railway arches in Peckham. Alongside the private view, Max and Hannah organised a print sale, raising over £1,000 for charity.
peckham 24
Max spent two years working with Emma Bowkett on exhibirions at Peckham 24 (2018 & 2019). Emma was curator and Max the producer, overseeing the exhibtion design, installation, artwork shipping and general running of the oppening nights. While working with Peckham 24 Max built lasting freindships with the directors of the festival, the exhibting artists and everyone who helped make the festival happen. Many of the people he has worked with professionally over the years he first met at Peckham 24.
Create Jobs x magnum photos
Alongside Emma Bowkett, in 2019, Max co-curated an exhibtion at Hoxton Arches showacsing the work of 15 young photographers who had participated in a free course co-delivered by Magnum Photos and Create Jobs. Max and Emma met with the photographers regularly, and alongside Magnum photographer, Sohrab Hura, helped them develop their projects for exhibtions and a newsprint publication.