Karl Bailey (b.1991) is a British artist and photographer based in Portsmouth. Their work looks at class, memory and identity as a means to explore place through storytelling, drawn from their rural working-class upbringing.

Alongside their image-based work, Bailey’s practice spans artist facilitation, teaching, curating and public programming focused on photography. They are the founder of Pompey Darkroom, a grassroots organisation creating opportunities and spaces for anyone to get involved, through public and educational programming. 

Exhibitions, Awards, Publications, Features.

2019:

Hidden Southsea, Playdead

2020:

British Analog Collective, Sports Edition

Covid 19 Arts Ads Billboard, Portsmouth

Portsmouth, My Portsmouth - We Create Market

Quaranzine, Pamplemousse Magazine

2021:

Findrangers Magazine - Issue 19

What Are You Grateful For? Group Exhibition, Portsmouth

4 Stops Travel Zine

Grapefruit Volume 1, Pamplemousse Magazine

Community, Large Scale Building Projection, We Shine Festival Portsmouth

Here & There, Joyfantastic, Portsmouth

A Collaborative Arts Plan for Southsea & Portsmouth

2022:

Arts Council Grant Develop Your Creative Practice

Mash Up, w/ Pompey Banana Club & Ashley John

Aspex Artist Residency

Then There Was Us, Annual Publication

British Journal of Photography, Portrait of Britain, Shortlisted

2023:

New Shoots, Artspace Portsmouth

Fractals Degree Show, University of Portsmouth

Work In Progress, The Imagination Refinery

Offsite Members Group Show, Open Studios - Artspace, Portsmouth

Fractals Degree Show, Free Range London

Photo Monitor 2023 Commendation for ‘A Stones Throw’

Picturing High Streets England, Digital Billboards Across the Country

‘Another World’ WIP Show, Pitt Street Skatepark

‘A Stones Throw’ Shortlisted for ArtsThread Global Design Graduate Show 2023

Platform Graduate Award, Aspex Portsmouth

2024:

Portsmouth Group Show, Portsmouth Library

Off Site Members Group Show, Artspace Portsmouth

2025:

Community Stories, ACE Project Grant

Hauntings, Hapax Magazine

2026:

Hauntings, POSE Portsmouth

Hauntings, Artspace Portsmouth

Self Published:

Greece, Zine, Edition of 100, /10 Handmade Special Editions (2018)

48, Zine, Edition of 48 (2018)

All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, PUR Bound Book, Edition of 100 (2019)

End of Summer, Zine, Edition of 50, /10 Handmade Special Editions (2019)

Fascination, Broadsheet Newspaper, Edition of 50 (2022)

Burden, Hand Produced, Risograph Zine, Edition of 6 (2026)