“Photie Man” honours the internationally-acclaimed Irish artist Tom Wood, featuring his iconic photographs of Merseyside.
This will be the first major retrospective of Tom’s career in Liverpool.
A resident of New Brighton for a 25 years, Tom Wood gained fame amongst locals as the “photie man” due to his daily presence on the streets with his camera. The majority of photographs taken in New Brighton were captured within a brief 5-minute stroll from Wood’s home.
His photographs are an intimate, multifaceted, and insightful portrayal of Merseyside. His pioneering photographs offer a definitive perspective on a significant era in the social and political history of the region, and his work remains highly influential among contemporary photographers.

Notable exhibits of the exhibition encompass celebrated projects like ‘Looking for Love’ captured at the Chelsea Reach nightclub in New Brighton, as well as Wood’s acclaimed Bus Series titled ‘All Zones Off Peak.’
The showcase also features previously unreleased long-term studies of two significant local establishments, namely the Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead, and photographs of Liverpool’s football grounds.
The exhibition will also explore Wood’s use of found photographs and landscape photography taken in Ireland and North Wales, alongside never-before seen film work from the artist.
Photie Man: 50 years of Tom Wood, is at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – 20 May 2023 – 7 January 2024
Main image: Tom Wood
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