Tajette O’Halloran is an Australian photographic artist who’s work explores the intricacies of interpersonal relationships within suburban and rural landscapes. For almost a decade, she has dedicated her artistic practice to two major ongoing series, 'In Australia' and 'The Quarry.' 

‘In Australia’ serves as a personal reflection on her own adolescence, offering a nuanced glimpse into the complexities of Australia's small-town and rural culture, unveiling traces of unconventional family backgrounds, hardships, friendships and complex peer structures. Rooted in personal experiences, Tajette’s conceptual documentary approach involves constructing cinematic scenes informed by memory, reflecting the diverse and shared experiences of adolescence across the Australian and wider global landscape.

In recent years, Tajette has developed 'The Quarry,' a series centred around an abandoned brickworks quarry turned swimming hole in rural NSW. Using traditional documentary photography, she captures the convergence of people, ecosystems, and the changing landscape, highlighting the quarry's dynamic microcosm. 

Tajette has received widespread recognition for her work. She was awarded the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Humanity award in 2019 and the Jurors Pick in the 2020 Lens Culture Award. She was also named a finalist in the National Portrait Prize in both 2021 and 2023, and  was shortlisted for numerous photography awards including The Olive Cotton Award (2021) where she received and honourable mention, The Doug Moran Photographic Prize (2016-2019) The Bowness Photography Prize (2016,2019) and The PH Museum Women’s Photography Grant (2021). 

Her work has been featured in Australian and International publications, including the British Journal of Photography (UK), The New York Times (USA) and The Guardian (AUS). Tajette has contributed as both an artist and curator in ACTS I-VII at Benalla Art Gallery as part of PHOTO 2022 and is a member of Oculi Collective.

EXHIBITION

2023 Ballarat Foto Biennale Ballarat Laneways VIC

2023 National Portrait Prize National Portrait Gallery ACT

2022 Lens Culture New York Caelum Gallery New York, NY

2021 In Living Memory National Portrait Gallery, Canberra ACT

2021 Olive Cotton Award Tweed Regional Gallery, Northern Rivers

2020 BJP Portrait of Humanity Space

2019 CCP Salon Centre of Contemporary Photography, Melbourne VIC

2019 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda VIC

2019 Sun Celebrates: Her SUNSTUDIOS, East Melbourne, VIC

2019 Bowness Photography Prize Monash Gallery of Art, VIC

2019 Moran Photographic Prize Juniper Hall Paddington, NSW

2018 Moran Photographic Prize Juniper Hall Paddington, NSW

2017 IRIS Award Perth Centre of Photography, WA

2016 CCP Salon Centre of Contemporary Photography, Collingwood, VIC

2016 Moran Photographic Prize Juniper Hall Paddington, NSW

2016 Bowness Photography Prize Monash Gallery of Art, VIC

2016 Closing Group Show Melbourne Arts Club, Preston, VIC

2015 SHOOT Melbourne Arts Club, Preston, VIC

2013 Deep in a Dark Reverie Solo Exhibition House of Bricks Gallery, Collingwood, VIC

AWARDS

2023 National Portrait Prize - Finalist ‘The Quarry’

2021 National Portrait Prize - Finalist ‘Leaving Melbourne’

2021 Olive Cotton Award - Finalist ‘Lismore’

2021 Lens Culture Portrait Awards - Jurors Pick ‘In Australia’

2021 PH Museum Women’s Photography Grant - Shortlisted ‘In Australia’

2019 CCP Salon - People’s Choice Award ‘You Can Post This After I Die’

2019 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize - Finalist ‘Untitled’

2019 Portrait of Humanity Award - Winner ‘You Can Post This After I Die’

2019 Moran Photographic Prize - Finalist ‘Untitled’

2018 Moran Photographic Prize - Finalist ‘Untitled’

2017 Iris Award - Highly Commended ‘Non Place’

2016 Moran Photographic Prize - Finalist 'Idle Ours'

2016 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize - Honourable Mention  'Idle Ours'

2014 Blow Up (portrait category)- Winner  'Children'

2012 Monster Children - Winner Photo Annual 'Her Against the World'

OTHER

2023 Artist Talk - Virtual Highlights Tour - National Portrait Gallery

2023 Workshop - Narrative Storytelling - Byron School of Art

2020 Workshop - Narrative Storytelling - Byron School of Art

2021 Artist Talk - In Living Memory - National Portrait Gallery

2020 Artist Talk - ‘Canon Convos’ - Podcast Series

2020 Workshop - ‘Light as a Subject’ - Lyceum Club, Melbourne

2016 Artist Talk - Monash Gallery of Art (MGA) as part of the Bowness Photography Prize