Kirsty Mackay is an photographic artist, educator, activist and filmmaker.
Her research-led documentary practice highlights social issues surrounding gender, class and discrimination. She has an MA in Documentary photography from University of South Wales, Newport.
Her current book project The Fish That Never Swam, considers class and discrimination against working-class people. Combining first-person narratives with photographs, it takes Glasgow as a case study, looking at the root causes of the city’s poor health outcomes and lower life expectancy.
Examining the relationship between the environment, government policy, historical trauma, and public health. It shifts the emphasis from individual life style choices to the effects that political policies have on our bodies. It will be published as a book in 2021.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, most recently in the Facing Britain group show, an observation of British Documentary Photography since the 60’s alongside works by Martin Parr, Anna Fox & David Hurn, Museum Goch, Germany.
Summary of recent exhibitions, commissions and publications
2020
Facing Britain group show, an observation of British Documentary Photography since the 60’s alongside works by Martin Parr, Anna Fox & David Hurn, Museum Goch, Germany.
Collaboration with The Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Glasgow. Using the latest data to make maps that illustrate excess mortality in Glasgow, to be published in The Fish That Never Swam. Working with the research team to make a joint funding application.
British Photography and the Photo Book exhibition, Mi Camera, Milan. ‘At a time of flux in Britain, the sense of a how a polarised nation has reached this moment can be seen in some of the most important photography to emerge since the 1970’s. Works by Chris Killip, Mark Neville, Clementine Schneidermann & Charlotte James, Ken Grant, Sebastian Bruno, Markéta Luskačová, Jim Mortram, Ewen Spencer and Kirsty Mackay.’
Commission from Bristol Museums, to make 25 portraits for the Bristol People gallery celebrating the achievements of local people.
2019
Article on The Fish That Never Swam published in The Observer and The Guardian.
Distinctly Britain exhibition, The Williamson Museum & Art Gallery, Liverpool and Pingyao Photography Festival, China. ‘As seen through the eyes of ten of the most significant and impactful established and emerging photographers working in Britain over the last six decades. Artists: Martin Parr, Chris Killip, Marketa Luskacova, John Myers, Tish Murtha, Niall McDiarmid, Daniel Meadows, Ken Grant, Robert Darch & Kirsty Mackay.’
2018
209 Women, exhibition Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool and UK parliament. To mark 100 years since women achieved the right to vote, we are taking over parliament with 204 new photographic portraits of all female MPs, shot exclusively by female photographers.
2017
My Favourite Colour Was Yellow, published in Le Monde, Marie Claire, The Telegraph, BJP and Time magazine.
Self-published first book My Favourite Colour Was Yellow.