Amelia Stein , RHA, lives and works in Dublin where she was born in 1958. Over the past 20 years Amelia Stein has established herself as a singularly exacting photographer. Her area of expertise has been portraiture, working with actors, performers, playwrights, poets, authors and musicians on commissioned images and on production photography in the Irish Theatre. Many of these images have had worldwide exposure. She also has assembled a number of personal exhibitions which have been seen in selected galleries throughout Ireland: In Loving Memory 1989, Triur Ban 1995, Palm House 2001 and Loss + Memory 2002 and many group and solo show from EVA to the RHA.

Amelia Stein's work is characterised by meticulous attention to detail in tandem with the attributes of fine black and white photographic printing, many of the images having a theatrical presence. In 2001 the Rubicon Gallery showed ‘The Palm House’ pictures, taken in the Great Palm House at the National Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin over two years, prior to its restoration, capturing the unique relationship between the planting and the time worn fabric of the building, the seasonal changes in light as plants marked the passing of time, rewarding her with quiet moments of splendour. The exhibition is now in the collection of the OPW.

Much of her work addresses the universal subject of loss and memory, absence and presence. In 2002 ‘Loss + Memory’, the dark and intimate still lives of her late parents personal belongings and household items. Memories imbue ordinary objects with status and meaning. It is easy to imagine a level of contact is re-established or at least one might access at a heightened level of sensitivity certain specified associated memories through particular objects. ‘Loss and Memory’ is in the collection at IMMA.

In 2003 she was the first photographer to be elected a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, Ireland. The image of the actor Olwen Fouere's hands was used by Irish Art for Amnesty, 2004 on the cover of the publication and poster campaign for the exhibition shown at IMMA. In 2005, she devised a programme for ‘the Ark’, Cultural Centre for Children, Dublin. ‘Photogram’ is an introduction to making black and white images, providing a first experience of working in a photographic darkroom and an introduction to classical black and white photography for children from 8 to 14 years. Its non-directional approach made it one of their most popular programs. Her work was part of "Siar 50" a group exhibition of a selection from the collection of the Contemporary Arts Society, Ireland shown at IMMA and in 2006 Amelia Stein was elected a member of Aosdana.

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