Shay Conroy (she/her) is a Canadian-Māori photographer who develops intimate long term documentary projects and is a contributing photojournalist. Drawing upon lived experiences of growing up in a low-income, blue-collar environment, Shay is passionate in advocating for those experiencing disabilities, mental health, addictions and poverty through visual storytelling. With a patient and quiet approach, her work explores themes of questioning home, community, identity, belonging, and reconnection. Early on, she found photography as a coping mechanism and a method of vulnerable communication. Through her practice and life, she’s found empowering therapeutic outlets by using her photo practice to process, document, find connection and even escapism.

Shay is a graduate of Sheridan College and a member of Women Photograph. She is a part time professor at Durham College in the Media, Arts and Design Faculty. She has exhibited work in several group shows with Scotiabank’s Contact Photography Festival, Toronto and had her first solo exhibit “Port of Prosper” as a public art installation from October 2023 - March 2024.

In her day to day life, Shay enjoys time with her dog, trains, breakfast food and large bodies of water. Based in her hometown of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Shay works within the Greater Toronto Area and is willing to go anywhere.

Available for assignments and commissions.

+1 905-914-7429

shayconroy@outlook.com

RECENT WORK:

"Port of Prosper" Solo Public Art Exhibit, Oshawa

The Globe & Mail: It’s time to combat obesity bias in the workplace

Washington Post: Police think a landfill holds women’s bodies. Why won’t they search it?

Follow @shayconroy on Instagram:

I made this portrait last month of my mum’s partner + my step-dad, Jim, in his coveralls at home. Jim does a lot for our family and I’m grateful for the relationship we’ve come to have. Most recently, he helped me gather tires, boat
They turned the lights out and closed the clouds, almost as if to give them privacy. As they melded into each other, the horizon turned orange in a singular line. With slow gasps and breaths held, the beach became suddenly so quiet, even the water fe
My mum and step dad have gotten majorly into ATVing. These images are from almost a year ago now when they took my brother and I on a hour long trail ride to get to the Marmora Mines. I had been there once before but was so stoked to go back with my
Industrial Mountains at Oshawa Port. With just over one week left to see “Port of Prosper”, I’m sharing a couple outtakes that didn’t make it into the installation. These are some fav selects of mine and are a part of a larg
I made these images almost a year ago now while onsite at 80 Bond. Sandra, a property manager, stood in for a portrait in one of the empty units. The following images are a detail shot in one of the common spaces, an outtake of the road that I like,
As I woke up today, still in bed, I was thinking about my sister making our brother and I eggs and beans on toast. Maybe it sounds simple, but it was such a sweet moment of my sister embracing that she could care for us like that during our trip. Ou
Hey pals, ‘Port of Prosper’ is still up at Ed Broadbent Park in Oshawa until this spring! This public art show opened in October 2023 and was created with the support of @cityofoshawa. I can’t believe it’s been up for 4 mont
Some portraits of my good friend Pascal in my visually chaotic home. This year I want to play with lighting more. I asked Pascal, being the unreal lighting tech he is, to come over last week for a refresh and to teach me a couple things. 🙏 Togethe
These year end posts always feel cheesy but I’m grateful to be able to reflect through photos and words: 2023… I had my first public art experience with a group CONTACT show, later followed by a second public art experience which was a
 

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