Contact - rickyadam15@mac.com

 

Ricky Adam is a photographer from the north of Ireland. 

Since 1997 he has worked on various photographic projects in Ireland, Europe & America.

He was senior photographer / Co. Editor at DIG BMX magazine from 1997-2013.

Collections of his work have been published by Cafe Royal Books, Drago, Damiani, Holy Land Pros & Audit.

Ricky's work is held in Tate/Parr collection, BnF (Bibioteque national de France), Bower Ashton Library & the Australian Centre of Photography.

He continues to work on long term projects.


Recent interviews, etc.

ID Magazine 

Then There Was Us

Creative Boom

The Guardian


Publications: 

‘Extinguish After Use’ (Audit 2022)

Photographs of scorch marks left behind by disposable barbecues.

‘Proof of Delivery’ (Audit 2022)

Photographs taken by courier drivers as proof of delivery.


‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ (Audit 2020)

Photographs of abandoned office plants after the lockdown was lifted during the covid 19 pandemic

“This publication featuring melancholy photographs of abandoned office plants is one of the most original projects we've seen so far relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.” - Creative Boom


‘Belfast Docks 2000’ (Cafe Royal Books, 2020)

Commissioned in 2000 by Belfast Exposed Gallery - documentary photographs of working life in and around Belfast docks in N. Ireland


'M1' (Audit, 2018) 

Selected by Martin Parr to be held in the Tate / Parr collection

“Beautifully photographed and published, the series perfectly sums up our modern throw-away cultures relationship to waste 
 M1 is a comment on photographic seeing, the shared language of photography and the photo book itself." Photomonitor, 2018


'Belfast Punk' Warzone Centre 1997 - 2003 (Damiani, 2017) 

“Ricky Adam documented the grassroots punk scene of the Warzone collective in late 90s Belfast” The Guardian, February 2017

“The book documents a small window in time; one in which the alternative ethos of the punk scene became a liberating space for many coming of age in the shadow of Northern Ireland's violent past” ID magazine, March 2017

 

‘Bins Bogs & Burials’ (Cafe Royal books, 2017)

Commissioned by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2000 these photographs are a documentation of Ards borough council workers - Bin men, public toilet attendants & gravediggers


‘Glad to see the back of you’ (Trajectories 2013)

A Zine' of photographs featuring the back of punk jackets.


‘Destroying Everything’ (Holy Land Pros, 1st ed, 2012; Drago, 2013, 2nd edition) 

“These images prove that being a punk is not a function of being part of ‘just another subculture’ but about a group of isolated people making this weird fucked up family where it’s perfectly alright to be in your head.” Maximum Rock N’ Roll, September 2013

 

Collaborative book publications:

‘The Street is Watching’ (Drago 2018)

Showcasing the evolution and the spirit of urban photography through the vision of both masters and young generations of photographers, featuring work by Larry Clark, Boogie, Ed Templeton, Glen E. Friedman, JR, Estevan Oriol, Martha Cooper, Spike Jonze, Jamel Shabazz, Bruce Davidson, Jim Goldberg, Mary Ellen Mark, William Klein, Spencer Platt, Nan Goldin, Cheryl Dunn, Eugene Richards, Pieter Hugo, Ryan, Ricky Adam, McGinley, Ricky Powell + many others

 

‘Hamburger Eyes : The Continuing Story of Life on Earth’ (Roma Publications 2016)

Published on the occasion of an exhibition at Kunstverein MĂŒnchen,

This particular publication complies facsimiles of spreads from back issues, plus images by such names as Ricky Adam, Stevie Dacanay, Ryan Florig, Troy Holden, Lele Saveri, Jai Tanju, David Uzzardi, and many more.

 

‘Backyard Shakedown’ (Upper Playground 2007) 

Some of the most active and exciting contemporary photographers are documented in this latest offering from Upper Playground. Features work by Mike Brodie, Boogie, Ricky Powell, Maya Hayuk, Andy Mueller, Peter Beste, Jason Fulford, Cheryl Dunn, Thomas Campbell, Ricky Adam and Michael Schmelling.

 

‘Red Bull Illume’ books X3: (Red Bull / Leica / Sandisk - 2006, 2010 & 2013)

Red Bull Illume is an international photography contest dedicated to adventure and action sports. It showcases the most creative and captivating photography on the planet and aims to bring the public closer to the world of action sports.

 

Other work:

‘Minneapolis Stay Up’ - Limited edition poster Obey poster collaboration with Shepard Fairey / Obey 2004

Featured in the ‘Obey Supply & Demand’ book. (Gingko Press 2006)

Photographic collaboration with Savakas clothing brand. Ltd edition T-shirts & tote bags were produced featuring a photo of Edwin De La Rosa in Barcelona, Spain - 2013

Photographic collaboration with Defgrip & Quintin creating t-shirts and hats featuring photos from The Imprint Project photo show. Shirt features a photo of Mike Tag at Stockwell skatepark in London - 2011

 

 

Records:

Refused - ‘The Shape of Punk to Come’ (Burning Heart Records 1998)

Bluetip - ‘Post Mortem Anthem’ (Dischord Records 2001)

Limp Wrist - ‘Thee Official Limp Wrist Discography’ (2010)

Limp Wrist / Knifed 7” (2003)

Giant Haystacks - ‘This is all there is’ (2018)

Hard Skin - ‘Do You Like Hospital Food’ (2014)

Hard Skin - ‘On The Balls / Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear’ (2012)

Doom - ‘Corrupt Fucking System’ (2013)

Cry Havoc - ‘A Feast For The Crows’ (2010)

Dickies - ‘Live at the Warzone, Belfast 1999’ 

Jaded Eyes - ‘Gods and Monsters’ (2013)

Vitamin X - ‘Rip it Out’ 7” (2005)

Afternoon Gentlemen - (2013)

Boxed In - (2010)

Salem Rages - 7” (2013)

Closure - 7” (2013)

 

 

Solo Exhibitions:

Belfast Punk’: PAN - Palazzo delle Arti Napoli - Naples, Italy 2017

Belfast Punk: Village Books - Leeds, U.K. 2017

Belfast Punk: Noise Annoys festival - Sheffield, U.K. 2017

Belfast Punk: Zorofest Festival - Leipzig, Germany 2017

DIG BMX photo show - Leeds, U.K. 2016

‘Urbanite’ - Hunters Moon - Co. Leitrim, Ireland 2021

‘Urbanite’ -  Bern, Switzerland - Turnhalle Program ‘Slidenite’ 2008

‘Urbanite’ -  Germany, 2003

‘Belfast Dock Workers’ (Commissioned by Belfast Exposed gallery) - Belfast Exposed gallery - Belfast, N. Ireland 2000

‘Belfast Dock Workers’ - (Commissioned by Belfast Exposed gallery) - Waterfront Hall, Belfast, N. Ireland 2000

‘Bins, Bogs & Burials’ (Commissioned by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland) - Ards Arts Centre - Newtownards, N. Ireland 2000

 

Group Shows:

‘30 Years of DIG BMX’ - ‘The Loading Bay’, Glasgow, Scotland, 2023

‘Contary To’ - Lot project space, London, U.K. 2023

‘Mass Energy’ - Bibliotheca Space, Peckham, London, U.K. 2021

‘Communal Spaces’ - Norman Rea Gallery, York, U.K. 2018

‘In the belly of the North’ - Leeds, U.K. 2018

‘Art on a Postcard’ - London 2017

‘Cybernetics’ - Hamburger Eyes - Slow Culture, L.A. 2016

Belfast Photo Festival - N. Ireland - 2016

‘Vertical Living’ - Feature Shoot - Pix 2015 - Seattle 2015

‘True North’ - White Cloth Gallery - Leeds, U.K. 2015

‘Aperture Summer Open’ - Aperture Gallery NYC 2014

‘The Street is Watching’ - Copenhagen Photo Festival 2014

’21 years of DIG BMX magazine’ - House of Vans, London 2014

‘Perfect Wasn’t Bad’ - Brooklyn, NYC 2014

‘End of The Role’ - Heavy Collective - Sydney Australia 2013

‘Imprint Project’ - Defgrip / Quintin Co. - A traveling photo gallery that started in Venice, Calif., to Austin, Texas, continuing onto Europe and Japan. - 2013

‘Red Bull Illume’ - A traveling photo gallery that started off in Dublin Ireland, before continuing around the USA / Europe - 2013

‘Red Bull Illume’  - A traveling photo gallery that was shown around the USA / Europe - 2010

‘Red Bull Illume’ - A traveling photo gallery that started off in Aspen Colorado before continuing around the USA / Europe - 2007

‘Art fags’ - Koln Germany 2007

Client list:

  • Nike

  • Howies

  • Adidas

  • Carhartt

  • ESPN

  • Vans

  • Red Bull

  • Esquire Russia

  • Etnies

  • Famous Grey Agency

  • Bushmills Whiskey

  • Neues Deutschland

  • Dummy Magazine

  • Quintin Co.

  • 4-Down

  • Savakas

  • Federal

  • Snickers

  • Urb Orbis

  • AKQA

  • United bike co.

  • Upper Playground

  • Profile Racing

  • Mutiny

  • Duffs

  • BSD

  • FIT

  • S&M bikes

  • Zoom media

  • Primo

  • Hoffman bikes

  • Prime & Fire

  • Terrible one

  • Animal

  • We The People

  • FBM bike co.

  • 2Hip bikes

  • Burning Heart records

  • Dischord records

Print Publications:

  • Destroying Everything (book)

  • DIG magazine

  • Maximum Rock N' Roll

  • GQ magazine

  • The Guardian

  • The Independent

  • British Journal of Photography

  • Juxtapoz

  • Pitchfork

  • Obey (supply & demand book)

  • Photofile magazine (published by the Australian Centre of Photography)

  • Backyard Shakedown (book)

  • Women's Health

  • Vice

  • Source magazine

  • The Telegraph

  • NME

  • Hot Press magazine

  • MPORA

  • Glad To See The Back Of You (Zine')

  • Freedom magazine

  • Hamburger Eyes

  • Lo-Down magazine

  • Soul BMX magazine

  • The Vacuum

  • Document skateboard magazine

  • Sushi magazine

  • Untitled V1 (book)

  • Hope collective punk cook book

  • Cycling weekly

  • Trust magazine

  • Heckler magazine

  • Visions magazine

  • Red Bull Illume (books x3) - 2006, 2010 + 2013

  • Nike 'partners in crime' (book)

  • etc...

Awards: 

‘Rock Legend’ award presented at the opening of the ‘Belfast Punk’ photo show at the PAN gallery in Naples 2017

Finalist ‘Red Bull Illume’ - Aspen, Colorado, USA & Dublin, Ireland 2006 & 2013