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Biography

Ryan O’Toole Collett is a documentary artist and photographer whose work explores the relationship between individual lives, place and history. Working through encounters, conversation and research, he considers how photography can establish connections while remaining a partial account of the people and situations it records.

Composition is central to his practice: the frame brings things into relation, while drawing a boundary around what can be seen. His projects question the photographer’s position within an encounter and how meaning changes through editing, sequencing and circulation. Photographs, books and exhibitions become ways of pursuing these questions rather than resolving them.

His most recent work, A Caged Dog Barks the Fiercest, brings photographs made in Mexico City alongside independent bilingual testimonies. He works independently and on selected commissions, and teaches at University of the Arts London.

More information

Selected record

Exhibitions

Exhibitions & Presentations

2022

AREA A — ADISH

Elements of AREA A included in an ADISH presentation
3537, Paris · June

2019

Sea of Sand / Lakiya — ADISH

Dover Street Market, Los Angeles · October
Dover Street Market, New York · August
Film presented in ADISH installations
Director: Ryan O’Toole Collett
Film & music: Grimshaw Mink

2019

AREA A — ADISH

Dover Street Market, London · May
Photography and multimedia installation
Led and photographed by Ryan O’Toole Collett
Texts, essay and interviews: Sonya Carassik Ratty

2018

Foreign Affairs

Axel Arigato, Soho, London
14–15 March · Group photography exhibition
Curated by Undine Markus and Holly Rae Jones

2016

In the Forest of Things

The Well Gallery, London
15–23 January · MA group exhibition

Books

Books

2025

A Caged Dog
Barks the Fiercest

Self-published by This Is This Editions,
with support from Dover Street Market.

First edition of 250 · May 2025
English and Mexican Spanish

Editor & designer
Frankie Moutafis
Copy editor
Isabel O’Toole Jiménez
ISBN
978-1-0369-1807-1
2020

It’s Always Been There

Carhartt WIP collaborative book
By Ryan O’Toole Collett, William Spooner and Reuben Douglas
200 pages · Edition of 1,500

2018

Youths in Balaclava

Photography and book design: Ryan O’Toole Collett
Produced with support from Dover Street Market
Edition of 1,000

Residencies

Residencies

Interviews & Features

Interviews & Features

2026

Dazed

These portraits capture the artists and club kids of Mexico City
Interview by Tiarna · 11 May

2020

10 Magazine

It’s Always Been There — selected in the magazine’s new books feature
27 October

2019

10 Magazine

ADISH: Palestinian heritage and contemporary streetwear
Sea of Sand / Lakiya film feature · 20 August

2018

It’s Nice That

Ryan O’Toole Collett’s portrait series in Kenya bridges the gap between photographer and subject
By Laura Isabella · 14 June

2018

HERO

Documenting the Singapore youth collective blurring fashion, music and art
Interview by Undine Markus · 12 March

2018

Vogue

Inside Singapore’s Secret Society of Young Fashion Creatives
By Brooke Bobb · 15 January

2018

Dazed

The anarchic Singaporean high school clique that became a fashion brand
By Clara Hernanz · 12 January

2016

Dazed

Capturing the communities in America’s Deep South
South Carolina / Visions of St Helena
By Sooanne Berner · 25 February

Teaching

Teaching & Education

London College of Communication · UAL

Associate Lecturer

  • Practice Development · Lectures and Feedback Sessions
  • Artist Talk
  • Artist Talk
  • Alternative Process Workshop

MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

London College of Fashion · UAL

Associate Lecturer

  • Practice Lecture · MA Fashion Photography
  • Practice Development · Lectures and Feedback Sessions
  • Capturing Fashion & Better Lives · Lectures
  • A New Gaze · Workshops
  • Capturing Fashion · Practice Development

Education

MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
2016 · London College of Communication
University of the Arts London

Writing on the Work

Writing on the Work

Selected Commissions

Selected Commissions

Clients & commissions

  • Dover Street Market
  • Burberry
  • Comme des Garçons SHIRT
  • Adidas
  • British Fashion Council
  • Clarks × Carhartt WIP

Editorial publications

  • Luncheon
  • BRICK
  • Purple Fashion
  • PETRIe
  • SLEEK
  • King Kong GARÇON