Born in South Shields in 1956, Tish Murtha returned to Newcastle from university to document life in her Elswick community, capturing the social impact of industrial decline with honesty, empathy and urgency.
Developed in close collaboration with her daughter Ella Murtha, the exhibition honours Tish’s vision and the continued stewardship of her archive. Her images remain a vital record of working-class experience and a powerful call to acknowledge the inequalities that persist today. Baltic will present, for the first time together, works from the series Elswick Kids, Elswick Revisited, Save Scotswood Works and Youth Unemployment.
Kuba 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, Ryniewicz 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.
This unique exhibition brings two powerful photographic voices into conversation, celebrating the enduring impact of Murtha’s work and presenting Ryniewicz’s dynamic new response in the city that shaped them both.
