MARIUSZ SMIEJEK
STORYTELLING & PORTRAITS
BIO
Born in Poland
Live in North of Ireland
Works in UK & EU
mariusz.smiejek@gmail.com
Freelance 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.
Additionally, he work as a photography tutor in UK, Ireland, Poland, 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
Fotogloria Advertising Agency in Germany
Royal College of Psychiatrists in Belfast
Der Hotelexperte Magazine
Check In Magazine
Northern Ireland Home & Lifestyle Magazine
Wydawnictwo Czarne
Gazeta Wyborcza
and many more...
Exhibitions and Festivals
Solo
2021
Not Surrendering - Rybnicki Festiwal Fotografi
Poland
2019
Not Surrendering - FotoCamp
Poland
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
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
Exhibitions
Group
2021
Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Award exhibition.
Museum Fotografiska
New York. USA
2021
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibition.
Warsaw, Poland
2019
"Dream Slaves" Fa La Cosa Giusta.
Milan, Italy
2018
Grand Press Photo exhibitions.
Poland
2018
Portraits, Sisters.
The Andrews Gallery at Titanic Museum.
Belfast, UK
2018
Portraits, Women of The Peninsula,
Georgian Gallery, Ards Arts Center.
Ards, UK
2017
Grand Press Photo exhibitions.
Poland
2017
The Other Hundred - photo book exhibition, Educators.
Hong Kong, China
2015
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibitions.
Poland
2013
Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. Somerset House.
London, UK
2012
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibitions.
Poland.
Publications
The New York Times
National Geographic
Der Spiegel
The British Journal of Photography
Time
BBC
Politico
Boston Review
Die Welt
Le Temps
The National
Duży Format
Wydawnictwo Czarne
Open Democracy
FotoEvidence
among many others...
Honours & Awards
2021
Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize created by David Clark Cause with global partner United Nations Human Rights.
Finalist
USA
2021
World. Report Award. Documenting Humanity.
Festival della Fotografia Etica.
Shortlist in category: Spotlight.
Italy
2020
National Geographic Magazine Award.
First prize in category: Human and water.
Poland
2019
Art Council of Northern Ireland &
The National Lottery Travel Award.
UK
2019
Monovision Photography Award,
Honourable mention in category: Portrait, series.
UK
2018
Grand Press Photo.
Second prize in category: Daily life, series.
Poland
2018
Grand Press Photo. Shortlist in category: Portrait.
Poland
2017
Grand Press Photo. Second prize in category: People, series.
Poland
2016
The Other Hundred project - Educators - UK winner.
China
2015
National Geographic Magazine Award.
Special mention in category: Street photography.
Poland
2014
Fotofestiwal Łódz.
Honourable mention by Magnum Photos Agency.
Poland
2013
Sony World Photography Awards. Honourable mention.
UK
2013
Sony World Photography Awards. Honourable mention.
UK
2012
International Photography Award. Honourable mention.
USA
2012
National Geographic Magazine Award.
First prize in category: Reportage
Poland
2011
National Geographic International Photography Contest. Second prize.
UK & Ireland