Biography
Self portrait collage, 2024
…
DOMINIC TURNER was born in Belfast in 1973. By the age of 10 he was already taking photographs and learning how to develop film and make prints in a home darkroom in rural Co. Kildare. After studying History at university and obtaining a postgraduate diploma in Arts Administration, he began working in graphic design and new media, where his love of photography was rekindled and his interest in the photographic print was established.
In 2008 he co-founded Exhibit A Studios in Dublin. As master printer there, he practices a range of photographic printing processes dating from the 19th century to the present day, producing prints for some of Ireland's most celebrated visual artists. He is also a member of the Graphic Studio, Dublin where he works with the Photopolyer process.
Turner's theoretical concerns linger on concepts of memory and truth, both inherent traits of photography itself. To explore these fully he digs deep into process, both analogue and digital, building his images through a complex palimpsest of texture and tone. His projects range in style from personal documentary to conceptual and street photography, with no fixed commitment to any particular school.
"(Turner's) work confronts us with the original ambiguity of photography, this strange invention always torn between reality and fiction, especially when it is devoid of context. Dominic Turner's exploded, sometimes almost dissolved landscapes are reminiscent of those of Jungjin Lee and Renato d'Agostin. But also to the sober poetry of the Italian school of Senigallia which included Mario Giacomelli, Ferrucio Ferroni and the precursor Giuseppe Cavalli." - POLKA, Paris (translated from the original French)
In 2007, Turner had his first major solo exhibition at the Mermaid Gallery in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Since then his photographs have been widely exhibited and collected, having been included in many International Festivals, notably InCadaques Photography Festival in 2018 (Open Call winner), and juried competitions such as the RHA Annual in Dublin, the Royal Academy Summer Show (UK) and are part of several public and private collections. In 2021, he received an ‘Honourable Mention’ in the prestigious Hariban Award, run by Benrido Atelier in Kyoto, Japan.
In 2023, he published his first monograph entitled ‘False Friends’. A solo exhibition of this work was presented by Polka Factory, Paris in the Autumn of 2024. Most recently, he received the ‘Progressive Vision Curtin O’ Donoghue Photographic Award’ as part of the 196th Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts’ Annual Exhibition, 2026.
Prints available via Polka Factory, Paris, France
Recent Awards & Shortlists
‘Progressive Vision Curtin O’Donoghue Photographic Award’
- 196th Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts’ Annual Exhibition, 2026
Gomma Photography Grant, 2024
- Finalist
Gomma Photography Grant, 2021
- Finalist, Black & White Category
Hariban Award, Benrido Atelier, Kyoto, Japan, 2021
- Winners list, ‘Honourable Mention’ category
InCadaqués International Photography Festival, 2018
- Open Call Winner
Renaissance Photography Prize, 2017
- Finalist
Select Exhibitions
2026
Royal Hibernian Academy's 196th Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
2025
'New Irish Art', Lavit Gallery, Cork [Group]
'Drawing with Light: Contemporary Photography', SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin [Group]
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, UK [Group]
'Kwaidan: Encounters with Lafcadio Hearn' – Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin [Group]
'Of Night & Light & Half Light', Gallery IND, Osaka, Japan [3xsolo]
2024
'False Friends' - Polka Factory, Paris, France [solo]
‘Lavit Gallery Winter Exhibition’, Lavit Gallery, Cork [Group]
'Bokeh' – SO Fine Art, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
'Kwaidan' - Kyoto University of the Arts, Kyoto, Japan [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy's 194th Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
'Kwaidan: Encounters with Lafcadio Hearn' – Ballinglen Museum of Art, Ballycastle Co. Mayo [Group]
‘Prism Inside’, Íova Group Show, Tør Gallery, Temple Bar, Dublin [Group]
2023
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibiton, London, UK [Group]
'Kwaidan' - Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Matsue, Japan [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy's 193rd Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
'Finding Form' – Selected Works from Kildare’s Municipal Art Collection, Riverbank, Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland [Group]
2022
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London, UK [Group]
'Shot’. SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin [Group]
'Images Are All We Have', Museum of Contemporary Photography of Ireland/PhotoIreland Festival, The Printworks, Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
2020
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
'Selected Works of the UCC Art Collection', The Glucksman, UCC, Cork, Ireland. [Group]
2019
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
2018
Fotofever, Charlet Photographies, Paris, France [Group]
InCadaqués International Photography Festival. Open Call, 2018, Winner's Exhibition. Cadaqués, Spain [Solo]
'Gathering', Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon. King House. Invited Artist [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland [Group]
2017
Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast
'Renaissance Photography Prize, 2017'. Finalist. Getty Images Gallery, London
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland
'Shot’. SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin [Group]
'Painterly Photography’. Catherine Hammond Gallery, Skibbereen, Co. Cork [Group]
2016
‘The Idea of North’. SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin [Group]
‘Shutter’. SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin [Group]
‘Chasing Shadows’, Gallery X, Dublin [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland. Invited participant [Group]
Little Stories, Little Prints - A 1916 Commemorative Visual Art Project [Group]
2015
Fotofever, Charlet Photographies, Paris, France [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2014
Skibbereen Arts Festival, Cork [Solo]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2013
Fotofever, Paris, France [Group]
‘Outside/In’ - Camera Obscura Installation. Big House Festival, Castletown House, Celbridge,. Co. Kildare
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2012
‘CIRCULATION(S’) Festival de la Jeune Photographie Europeénne, Paris [Group]
Chasing Shadows, The Profile Gallery, Saltburn -by-the-Sea, UK [Group]
‘Rayko’s 5th International Juried Plastic Camera Show’, San Francisco, USA [Group]
‘Illusion & Chemistry: The Alternative Process’, Kat Kiernan Gallery, Virginia, USA [Group]
Arles Photography Open Salon, Galerie Huit, Arles, France [Group]
2011
‘Human/Nature’, OPW State Art Collection, Farmleigh, Dublin [Group]
Chasing Shadows 11, CFCP, Dublin [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 2011, Dublin. Invited participant. [Group]
2010 Chasing Shadows, CFCP, Dublin [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2009
Photo LA/Andrew Ward Gallery [Group]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2008
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
2007
'Plastography', Mermaid Arts Centre Gallery, Bray, Co. Wicklow [Solo]
Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin [Group]
Airfield Trust, Dundrum, Co.Dublin [Solo]
Mermaid Arts Centre Gallery, Bray, Co. Wicklow [Group]
2006
'Plastography', The Front Lounge, Dublin [Solo]
2005
'Plastography', Kilkenny Arts Festival, Kilkenny [Solo]
2004
Xhedos Gallery, Detroit, USA [Group]
Yebisu Photographic Week, Tokyo, Japan [Group]
Collections
UCC/Glucksman Art Collection, University College Cork, Ireland
OPW State Art Collection, Ireland
Kildare County Council Municipal Art Collection
SMBC Art Collection
DFA (Dept. of Foreign Affairs) Collection, Ireland
David Kronn Collection
