Thomas Duffield

An intimate act of reconnection, Poppy Promises traces a nine year journey of rebuilding the bond between father and son after years of estrangement. In confronting this complex chapter of his family history, Duffield reflects on the impact of his father’s heroin addiction not only on their relationship, but on his parents’ marriage, while honoring the strength of his mother, who carried the weight of single parenthood in his father’s absence. Portraits and allegorical still lifes unfold in a quiet rhythm, mapping the emotional terrain of a household shaped by addiction. Interwoven with the photographs are text messages exchanged between father and son. A story of resilience, accountability and the slow work of reconnection. 📚 Thomas Duffield — Poppy Promises 📍 Now available at the Huis Marseille bookshop

Great to finally share this. . . This is a big one for me, and in a strange way, this photograph has been four years in the making. . . When I worked on my first project, The Whole House is Shaking, I addressed some aspects of my own family history that were difficult to discuss. Reconnecting with my dad after years of little contact, I began to make work around the subject of his struggle with addiction. We started to meet up regularly for the first time. It was nice to be getting to know more about my dad, hearing him tell stories; generally having a laugh and talking shit about nothing in particular. . . Partly because I wanted to embrace this process of getting to know him, and partly because I was hesitant and weary about making work with him directly; my camera stayed in its bag for years. . . In November, I called him up and told him about an idea I had that involved shaving our hair. I was scared that he would say no, but to my surprise, he was enthusiastic about the idea. He rooted out my grandads old Wahl clippers and I drove round to his house as quickly as I could. . . Forming part of a larger body of work that has been coming together over the past three years, the process has involved a reconciliation of our own vulnerabilities as men. The photograph has been shortlisted for the Wellcome prize 2021 @wellcomephotoprize , under the theme of mental health. . . Through working with my dad, I’ve come to believe that as men, we need to recognise our capacity for both strength and vulnerability; and that being more open about the way we feel is necessary if we want to create better lives for ourselves and the people around us. . . It’s an honour to be part of this award that serves to promote awareness around the current health challenges of our time. . . I’ve a lot more to say about this story but here isn’t the best place. thank you t x #mackfromhome

My grandad earlier in the summer. I’ve never met anyone else that can go through big changes in their life as gracefully as he can. . . I’ll be exhibiting some new photographs tonight 5-8pm @34boarlane for a one night event. If you are in Leeds come along and join us for a drink and a natter. . . The work consists of photographs made during some of the slower days of 2020 (you know those strange and testing months) . . On the walls with fellow Leeds friends @thomaswoodphotography @emryalls @sebsmith____

We're set up @photolondonfair and ready to go in booth J03, presenting Poppy Promises by @thomas.duffield and Close to Home by @lauramccluskey . Thanks for having us @omfgnoway .

@thomas.duffield @ft_weekend Poppy Promises will be showing with @guesteditions at @photolondonfair as part of Discoveries curated by @omfgnoway 🩷 “I didn’t think it would be easy, but nothing could have prepared me for how long and winding the project would become. I would cycle over to his house burdened with equipment, only for the camera to remain packed in its bag. It was four years before I worked up the courage to ask him to sit for a portrait.“

Adding salvaged wood battens to the back of the frames. These battens are cut from larger beams of old but high quality timber collected over the years on the farm by my mum’s partner. This adds rigidity to the frames and makes the float mount possible. As I worked away on these, the brilliant @freshaire_ltd produced a number of archival pigment prints from the series Poppy Promises. For a sharp finish, Alec at Fresh Aire mounted each of the prints to Alu DiBond. The next step involves joining Aluminium mounted prints to the solid oak frames… More insights coming soon… 🧡 Photo London 14th - 17th May @guesteditions @photolondonfair Discovery, J01 📍

We are happy to announce the second artist as part of our participation in this year's Photo London. Find us in the Discovery section where our booth will present long term projects with a focus on family, home, memory and relationships with the past. Including Poppy Promises by @thomas.duffield , presented as a selection of artworks and unique, hand framed pieces. @photolondonfair Kensington Olympia Discovery, J03 14-18 May.

I’ve been meaning to reflect on the past weeks, and share some good news of things to come. But these first glimpses of sunshine are precious, and the seasonal change has had me seeking moments of quiet in nature. This is where I have found myself more often as of late. With no restrictive aims or intentions beyond the simple pleasure of watching the world unfold within the viewfinder. I hope that I’m forever astounded by the beauty and wonder that can be found in the small and commonplace. Even within the limited parameters of the viewfinder, life bursts forth to unravel in time. Recognising the intricate beauty in the small and commonplace often invites me to think of the vast scale and complexity of the universe at large. That from each moment to the next, across the planet, life in its many forms is unified in constant movement so intricately woven down to the smallest minutiae of detail. Bumblebee and Foxglove, Autumn 2025.

Later this week I travel to Utrecht ahead of the FOTODOK BOOK TALKS #46, @fotodok.nl A live talk show centred on the photobook, with interviews led by Giya Makondo Wills. (@giyamakondowills ) The talk takes place live in Utrecht on Monday 13th April, and the wonderful news followed that the talk will also stream on the same evening in Modena, Italy @_sugarpaper_ I’m excited to be sharing insights into Poppy Promises, and honored to be beside great company on the evening: @farrenvwyk w/ Mixedness is my Mythology. @yanwangpreston w/ With Love. From an invader. - Rhododendrons, Empire, China and me. @hans.gremmen w/ In Between - Poppy Promises has been in the world for five months now and the reception of the work has breathed a deep fulfillment into my life. Photograph: Father at Home, from the series Poppy Promises. Published by Witty Books @witty_books Design @ilaria.miotto_ - 📆 Monday 13th April 8pm 📍 TivoliVredenburg, Vredenburgkade 11, 3511 WC Utrecht + Online 💫 Thank you 🧡

A portrait of Ai Weiwei, Cambridge, 2026. @aiww - Thank you to Ai and Dongxu, and @youvalle for commissioning the portraits. Ai Weiwei is interviewed by Susanne Lenz for the Jan 31/Feb 1 issue of @berliner_zeitung Photo Editor: @youvalle Creative director: @uros.co.yu @berliner_zeitung_artdept Processing: @takeiteasylab #aiweiwei #120mmfilm #kodak

The inimitable Ai Weiwei photographed earlier this week for the Berliner Zeitung. @aiww I’d reached the last two frames on the roll and Ai suggested pulling his hood over to cover half of his face. I agreed, looked down through the loupe and turned the focus. Watching it move from the hem of the hood, across his nose, and towards his returning gaze. Thank you to Ai and Dongxu, and @youvalle for commissioning the portraits. Ai Weiwei is interviewed by Susanne Lenz for the Jan 31/Feb 1 issue of @berliner_zeitung Photo Editor: @youvalle Creative director: @uros.co.yu @berliner_zeitung_artdept Processing: @takeiteasylab

The Brontë waterfall photographed for the FT Life & Arts Travel Story ‘My weekend at Wuthering Heights’ by Maria Crawford.