Irena Hauck (nee Jurkiewicz) journey as a photojournalist began in the rural landscapes of northeastern Poland, where she sought to capture the quiet beauty and raw emotion of everyday life. After graduating in Photography and Film Studies, she worked at cultural centers, organizing photography workshops and excursions for young artists and established Polish photographers.
From the start, Irena was drawn to the deep emotions hidden in fleeting moments—the joy, sorrow, and resilience found in ordinary days. Her striking photo series documenting life in a nursing facility for the chronically ill exposed the isolation of its residents and caught the attention of critics and colleagues. Her work was often compared to the styles of Diane Arbus and Dorothea Lange, driven more by instinct than technical precision. She found her subjects in remote villages, shadowed hallways of care homes, and train stations where history was unfolding in real-time. She believed in building relationships with those she photographed, allowing their stories to emerge naturally through her lens.
In 1977, she was invited to join the Polish Young Photojournalists Association in Warsaw, an opportunity that led to mentorships at national youth publications. Soon after, she became a full-time photojournalist for a weekly magazine under the direction of Sławek Biegański, a pivotal figure in Polish photojournalism. These were the years leading up to the Solidarity movement, a time when documenting the truth often meant challenging the political narrative. As a result, much of her most critical documentary work was censored.
Despite this, her images endured. Over the years, her work has been exhibited in Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada. One of the most significant milestones came in 2008 when her photographs were featured in She – Documentalists, a major exhibition celebrating Polish female photojournalists of the last century, hosted by Zachęta, the National Gallery of Art in Warsaw.
Interview with Irena Hauck - Polish Studio - TORONTO CA
Interview with Irena Hauck - "Z ukosa" OMNI TV - TORONTO CA
SHE-DOCUMENTALISTS POLISH WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE 20th CENTURY - ZACHETA PL