Kate Swift is a Dublin based photographer working across portraiture, editorial and long form photographic projects. She works with creatives, performers and organisations to create natural, thoughtful portraits rooted in storytelling. Working in studio and on location, she creates a relaxed, collaborative environment that allows for genuine connection and honest, intimate images.
Alongside commissioned work, Kate develops ongoing projects exploring themes of community, place and identity. Her practice is rooted in witnessing and remembering, using photography to reflect quieter stories that are often overlooked. Her work is driven by a desire to connect, preserve and reflect the complexity of lived experience and the subtle ways individuals and communities are shaped by their environments.
Her approach is informed by training in therapeutic photography. She holds a Certificate in the field and is a member of the Therapeutic Photography Society, shaping how she works ethically and relationally across both projects and commissions.
With a background in Psychology, Art History and Creative Advertising, Kate holds a BA from University College Dublin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Advertising from Axis Adschool, Auckland, and a BA in Photographic Media from Griffith College Dublin.
Kate has exhibited work nationally including, PhotoIreland Festival at Dublin Castle, The National Print Museum, The Library Project, The Darkroom, and Culture Night x IOVA Group Show. She was recently awarded the Arts Council Agility Award and her work is held in the Office of Public Works (OPW) collection.
Exhibitions:
2024 - Agility Award Recipient - Arts Council Ireland
2024 - IOVA & Culture Night - ‘Echoes of Ireland’ Group Exhibition
2023 - Halftone - The Library Project, Dublin
2023 - IOVA - ‘Prisms Inside’ - Group Exhibition
2022 - PhotoIreland Festival, Photobook Exhibited - Dublin Castle
2022 - Source Magazine, Graduate Selection
2021 - Agora, Group Exhibition - The Darkroom, Dublin
2021 - Halftone - The Library Project, Dublin
2021 - The Chapel, Group Exhibition - National Print Museum, Dublin
Education:
2023 - Bachelor Photographic Media - Griffith College, Dublin
2007 - Postgraduate Creative Advertising - Axis Adschool, Auckland
2005 - Bachelor Psychology & Art History - UCD, Dublin
Awards:
2024 - Agility Award Recipient - Arts Council Ireland
2022 - Shortlisted SMEDIA Awards - Photographer of the Year
2021 - Shortlisted - RHA Annual Exhibition
2020 - Business To Arts - Runner Up - Docklands Competition
2020 - SMEDIA Awards - Gold - News & Documentary Photographer
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