// about blow photo
BLOW Photo, a Lucie Awards-nominated photography platform, was created in 2010 to promote photography and support artists through publications, talks, workshops, exhibitions, and educational events.
In 2010, we published the first Irish-based fine art photography publication, BLOW Photo Magazine. This large-format, image-based publication featured both emerging and established photographers from all over the world.
Sixteen limited edition issues have been published and distributed globally. BLOW Photo has collaborated with international photography festivals such as the Hamburg Triennial of Photography and the Southeast Museum of Photography in Florida. Awards and nominations include ‘Print of the Year 2010′, 2015′, 2016’, Ireland, Arts Finalist of David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards 2012 & 2013, and Nominee for Photography Magazine of the Year at the Lucie Awards 2013 & 2014 & 2015. BLOW Photo was also invited to contribute to prestigious festivals around the world, including Paris Photo, Unseen Amsterdam, London Art Fair, and Fotofestiwal Lodz.
In 2019, we launched FUSE – BLOW Photo Book Programme, aimed at mentoring an artist through the process of publishing a photo book. By bringing together the collective knowledge of an editor, publisher, designer, and printer, FUSE gave an artist the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s best people while gaining deep insight into the process of making their own photo book. The 3-month program resulted in the awardee’s work being presented to international publishers at Rencontres d’Arles 2019 as a professionally edited, designed, and printed Dummy.
In 2022, BLOW Photo was invited by Photo Museum Ireland to curate Chapter Six of their series of shows: “In Our Own Image.” Our curators, Agata Stoinska and Monika Chmielarz, selected 9 young artists whose work indicates new directions in contemporary photography. Thus was born “The Rise,” a show with a focus on a new generation of Irish photographers.
The exhibition took place in our home: D-Light Studios, a 130-year-old factory/converted cultural space in the heart of Dublin’s North Inner City.
While working on “The Rise,” we invited the winner of our BLOW Photo Book Programme FUSE, Roisin White, and artist Ali Waters to facilitate a series of workshops for local young people. This 6-week program provided a hands-on opportunity for self-exploration and expression through photography and visual art. Responding to the theme “Home,” the students were encouraged to have open conversations and create artwork showcased during “The Rise” exhibition.
BLOW Photo is honoured to participate in D-Light’s mission to interweave threads of art, culture, well-being, and education together and provide ways for the community to come together to create an exciting future.