Conall Kearney Documents Wartime Realities in Ukraine for CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers List
Conall Kearney, a 29-year-old photographer from Ireland, resides in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he has dedicated the last four years to capturing the realities of life during wartime. His work is included in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers list, showcasing 14 artists worldwide under the age of 30. Kearney's images depict contrasting scenes, such as soldiers at the ready and a baby in a stroller, reflecting the duality of beauty and brutality. Influenced by Vietnam War photographers Tim Page and Don McCullin, he considers Tim Hetherington his greatest inspiration for his unique and compassionate portrayal of conflict. Kearney seeks to raise awareness about global events, focusing on the lives of refugees and injured civilians, while being cautious of the historical exploitation in conflict photography. Two years ago, he experienced a harrowing 14-hour gunfight with Ukrainian soldiers when their village was encircled by Russian forces, emerging with only a broken camera and a minor shrapnel injury.
Key facts
- Conall Kearney is a 29-year-old Irish-born photographer based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- His work is featured in CULTURED's 2026 Young Photographers list, which spotlights 14 artists aged 30 or younger.
- Kearney has documented wartime realities in Ukraine over the last four years.
- He cites Vietnam War-era photographers Tim Page and Don McCullin as influences, and Tim Hetherington as the biggest influence.
- His most challenging subjects are refugees and injured civilians in combat.
- Two years ago, he was in a 14-hour close-quarters gunfight after his squad was surrounded by Russian military; he suffered a broken camera and a small shrapnel wound.
- Kearney aims to make people aware of global events, whether local or on a battlefield.
- The 2026 Young Photographers list includes other artists such as Alec Dai, Brian Karlsson, Arielle Gray, Ben Jastremski, and Suniko Bazargarid.
Entities
Artists
- Conall Kearney
- Tim Page
- Don McCullin
- Tim Hetherington
- Alec Dai
- Brian Karlsson
- Arielle Gray
- Ben Jastremski
- Suniko Bazargarid
Institutions
- CULTURED
Locations
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Ireland