New photo book celebrates Tasmania’s Art Deco and modernist architecture

29 May 2026

A new fine art photography book decades in the making will shine a spotlight on Tasmania’s rich Art Deco and modernist architectural heritage.

Tasmanian visual artist and commercial photographer Thomas-Liam Ryan is preparing to launch Art Deco & Modernism Tasmania, a photographic exploration of architecture and design across the island state spanning the 1930s to the 1980s.

Ryan has spent more than 20 years working on the project, travelling throughout Tasmania to photograph towns, cities and rural landscapes, documenting buildings from a pivotal period in the state’s architectural history, albeit one that has been poorly documented until now, he believes.

"Whilst 19th century architecture in Tasmania has been well documented, there's been very little to celebrate 20th Century architecture and design. This is true from when I started the project over twenty years ago and [until] today," he says.

Unfortunately, Ryan says much local architecture has been demolished since he started the project, but he is hopeful his photographic record will live on.

"Documenting buildings that were slated for demolition is always emotionally draining," he says.

"Over the decades I get to know the structures like best friends, and to see them be literally torn apart is heartbreaking. But my role as photographer drives me to document this process so there is a record for posterity."

The resulting book is a carefully curated fine art hardcover publication that captures everything from striking Art Deco façades to mid-century modernist landmarks, revealing how Tasmania’s built environment evolved across five decades.

The limited-edition release will be restricted to just 300 hardcover copies.

Measuring 300mm x 240mm across 180 pages, the book has been produced with bespoke paper stock selected in collaboration with a Melbourne printer to complement Ryan’s imagery and the character of the buildings featured throughout.

The book is organised into six photographic themes: Dwellings, Civic & Faith, Trade & Entertainment, Industrial & Manufacturing, Education and Government.

Together, the categories create a broad portrait of Tasmania’s architectural identity, from private homes and public buildings to factories, theatres and schools, while also reflecting the social history and design influences that shaped communities across the state.

Images were captured with a variety of camera bodies, but the lenses chosen for the project have remained relatively consistent, says Ryan.

"My go-to lenses are the Tilt Shift 17, 24 and 50mm lenses. For details I use a 70-200mm zoom lens," he says.

The Kickstarter campaign for the book has already hit more than half its target of $22,000.

You can support Ryan's Kickstarter here.