Ryniewicz, recognised for his distinctive and unconventional approach to portraiture, brings a contemporary perspective to the exhibition. His practice blends fashion photography, regional histories and personal storytelling, often foregrounding humour,…
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Ryniewicz, recognised for his distinctive and unconventional approach to portraiture, brings a contemporary perspective to the exhibition. His practice blends fashion photography, regional histories and personal storytelling, often foregrounding humour, intimacy and a vivid sense of character. For this commission, he responds to Murtha’s legacy by creating a new body of work that explores joy, resilience and everyday life across the region. Working closely with local communities and collaborators, Ryniewicz’s photographs challenge expectations of how the North East is seen and represented, offering a vibrant counterpoint to Murtha’s documentary vision while remaining deeply rooted in place.
The Daily Weeding, Kuba Ryniewicz’s first photobook, is a generous reportage: a banal and touching story. The Polish-born British photographer explores his home with a simple palette. Usually cheerful and playing with joyful ambiguity, he captures attitudes, atypical profiles, or grimaces. A work of literary fiction by Yelena Moskovic accompanies images, which are followed by a postscript written by Olivia Laing.
Opening in summer 2026, Close to Home is a landmark exhibition in Baltic’s Level 3 gallery and marks the first time four major series by celebrated documentary photographer Tish Murtha will be shown together in the North East, alongside a newly commissioned body of work by Newcastle–based artist Kuba Ryniewicz.
