Caroline Irby is a British photographer whose work bridges the realms of documentary and portraiture, with a focus on themes of migration, identity, and childhood.
Rooted in the belief that photography can connect people and provoke dialogue, Caroline’s work links disparate worlds through compelling visual narratives. Her practice is defined by an empathetic lens and a sensitivity to the complexity of human experience. Often working on long-term, relationship-based projects, she invites viewers into intimate spaces, using photography to explore the personal stories that echo wider social issues.
Her work has been widely exhibited worldwide, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, Somerset House, Royal Festival Hall, and the World Children’s Art Museum in Japan. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery and the Imperial War Museum in London.
She has published two books: A Child from Everywhere (Black Dog, 2010), featuring portraits and interviews with children from 185 countries who migrated to the UK; and Someone Else’s Mother (Schilt, 2020), which tells the intimate story of Juning, a Filipina woman who lived with Caroline’s family in London for 22 years, and of the four children she had to leave behind in the Philippines. The book explores themes of family, care, and sacrifice.
Throughout her career, Caroline has documented humanitarian stories and conflict zones, built a strong practice in advertising, and continued to develop deeply personal, narrative-driven projects.
‘Irby has managed successfully to tread the line between voyeuristic intrusion and misplaced sentimentality… Her work contains great tension and emotional charge.’ The Times
Solo Exhibitions
Claiming a New Place on Earth, Protein Studios, London, UK, 2017
Freedom is not Easy, The Proud Archivist, London, UK, 2016
Like Riding a Bike, Westbank Gallery, London, UK, 2011
Words and Pictures – What we Learn from Children, Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, 2011
Words and Pictures – What we Learn from Children, World Children’s Art Museum, Okazaki, Japan, 2010
A Child from Everywhere, V&A Museum of Childhood, London, UK, 2010
A Child from Everywhere, Bubble – Islington, London, UK, 2010
Cloudesley Children at Home, Richard Cloudesley School, London, UK, 2009
Is Your Neighbour Killing You?, National Parliament, Kampala, Uganda, 2007
Walk with Joyce, The Spitz Gallery, London, UK, 2005
Walk with Joyce, G8 summit, Edinburgh, UK, 2005
Firefly, Scottish Arts Centre, Edinburgh, UK, 2001
Group Exhibitions
The Syngenta Photography Award, Somerset House, London, UK, 2013
Commonwealth Photographic Awards, touring exhibition, various countries, 2007
The World Can’t Wait, Southbank, London, UK, 2007
Document, SS Robin Gallery, London, UK, 2006
Photovoice Auction, Reuters, London, UK, 2005
MSF Darfur Fundraising Exhibition, 54 The Gallery, London, UK, 2004
Click: A Celebration of Sight, The Oxo Gallery, London, UK, 2004
Modern Day Slavery, UNHCR, Geneva, Switzerland, 2004
BBC Music Photography Award, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK, 2002
Publications
Someone Else’s Mother, Schilt Publishing, 2020
A Child from Everywhere, Black Dog Publishing, 2008
Walk with Joyce, Tearfund, 2005
Group book projects
UK at Home, Against All Odds Productions, 2008
Our World of Water, Frances Lincoln Press, 2008
Editorial clients
Corriere dela Serra, Italy
De Standaard, Belgium
Economist
Elle
Financial Times Magazine
Foto 8
Globe and Mail, Canada
Grazia
Guardian Weekend Magazine
Independent
It’s Nice That
Mainichi, Japan
Marie Claire
Newsweek
Nouvel Observateur, France
Observer Food Monthly
Observer Magazine
Positive News
Prospect Magazine
Psychologies Magazine
Refinery 29
Rolling Stone
Sunday Herald Magazine
Sunday Times Magazine
Telegraph Magazine
Time Out
Vogue
Commercial clients
Aberdeen Asset Management
Airbnb
Blackheath High GDST
British Telecom
Burberry
Canary Wharf
Canon
Channel 4
DFS
Dorling Kindersley
Eleven Film
Enjoy Education
Fostering Network
Fred Olsen
Greenberry Kids
Harley Street Clinic
Healthcare Locums
Iris Fashion
Hipp Organic Baby Milk
Investec
Jacobs
JP Morgan
Kensington Preparatory School
Lumi
Macmillan Publishing
Man Group
Mayer Brown
National Trust
Nights by Wilder
Ofsted
Olivier London
Open University
Packington Moor
Persil
Polar Post
Raiz Atelier
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Tesco
Their Nibs
Tigerlily Films
Urban Merino
Wild and Gorgeous
World Circuit Records
NGO clients
British Heart Foundation
British Red Cross
Cafod
Cancer Research UK
CARE International
Concern
Farm Africa
Oxfam
Plan International
Save the Children
Sight Savers International
Tearfund
The IRC
UNHCR
UNICEF
Water Aid
World Wildlife Fund
Y-Care