BIO
Mariusz Smiejek
Freelance documentarian, visual storyteller and portraitist specializing in the raw narrative of human and social conditions. Noted documentary work explores post conflict communities, refugee and asylum seekers, child slavery, street children, human trafficking, victimized women, dangerous livelihoods, corruption and systemic abuse. Harnessing a total immersion approach, the camera becomes an unadulterated and impartial window between the subject and the audience. Possesses the ability to navigate fragile and volatile contexts, and infrastructures with ease, including informal migrant encampments, remote West African villages, and urban uprisings.
Some of his pictures were published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Der Spiegel, The British Journal of Photography, Time, BBC, Politico, Boston Review, Die Welt, Le Temps, Black+White Photography, The National, De Volkskrant, DR, Vision Project, Duzy Format, Wysokie Obcasy, Wydawnictwo Czarne, Open Democracy, FotoEvidence among many others.
Additionally, he work as a photography tutor in United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Ghana.
He is founder and volunteer at Between Pictures Project.org
Clients include: Siemens, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Politico, Die Welt, Le Temps, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Weekendavisen, ArtSekta, Fotogloria Advertising Agency, Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Belfast, Der Hotelexperte Magazine, Check In Magazine, Northern Ireland Home & Lifestyle Magazine and many more...
Honors & Awards
2021 - World. Report Award. Documenting Humanity. Festival della Fotografia Etica - Shortlist in category: Spotlight. Italy
2020 - National Geographic Magazine Award, Poland, first prize in category: Human and water
2019 - Art Council of Northern Ireland & The National Lottery Travel Award
2019 - Monovision Photography Award, honourable mention in category: Portrait, series - London, UK
2018 - Grand Press Photo, Poland - second prize in category: Daily life, series
2018 - Grand Press Photo, Poland - shortlist in category: Portrait
2017 - Grand Press Photo, Poland - second prize in category: People, series
2016 - The Other Hundred project - Educators - UK winner, Hong Kong, China
2015 - National Geographic Magazine Award, Poland - special mention in category: Street photography
2014 - Fotofestiwal Lódz, Poland, honourable mention by Magnum Photos Agency
2013 - Sony World Photography Awards competition, London, UK, honourable mention
2013 - Sony World Photography Awards competition, London, UK, honourable mention
2012 - International Photography Award in Los Angeles, USA, honourable mention
2012 - National Geographic Magazine Award, Poland, first prize in category: Reportage
2011 - National Geographic UK & Ireland International Photography Contest, second prize
Exhibitions
Solo
2019 - "Dream Slaves" - Alliance Française d'Accra, Ghana
2019 - "Dream Slaves" Festival - Incontro tra i popoli, Milan, Italy
2018 - "Dream Slaves" 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Bergamo, Italy
2018 - "Dream Slaves" Fa La Cosa Giusta - Palermo, Italy
2018 - The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, John Hewitt International Summer School, Armagh, UK
2016 - Opportunity Art Gallery, Shankill rd, Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
2015 - Crescent Arts Centre Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK)
2014/02 - Edgerton Performing Arts Center Gallery Fairfield, SH University, Connecticut, USA
2014/06 - Edgerton Performing Arts Center Gallery Fairfield, SH University, Connecticut, USA
Group
2021 - National Geographic Magazine contest exhibition, Poland
2019 - "Dream Slaves" Fa La Cosa Giusta - Milan, Italy
2018 - Grand Press Photo exhibition in several cities in Poland
2018 - Portraits, Sisters, The Andrews Gallery at Titanic Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
2018 - Portraits, Women of The Peninsula, Georgian Gallery, Ards Arts Center, Northern Ireland, UK
2017 - Grand Press Photo exhibition in 16 main cities in Poland
2017 - The Other Hundred - photo book exhibition, Educators, Hong Kong.
2015 - National Geographic Magazine contest exhibition in a several cities in Poland
2013 - Somerset House London, UK - Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition
2012 - National Geographic Magazine contest exhibition, Poznan, Warsaw, Rybnik, Krakow, Gdansk - Poland.