ABOUT

Monique Belier is a photographer from the Netherlands. Last year (2023), she graduated with a BA from the Photo Academy in Amsterdam. Her graduation project, a photo artist-book 'Where the Spirit Meets the Bone' was distributed across many countries, available in bookshops in Paris, Milan, Lisbon, London, and more. Additionally, it found a place in the photo book library in Salzburg and was curated by esteemed institutions such as House Marseille and Foam in Amsterdam.

In 2023, Belier was selected as a Fresh Eyes talent, leading to her participation at Haute Photography in Amsterdam. Furthermore, she was chosen for the OFF Bratislava festival to present her book. Her work garnered further praise and was recognized by Robin Titchener in the list of the best photo books of 2023. Belier's work has been featured in various magazines and exhibited in the Netherlands and Zurich.

She is currently shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival and has been invited to Origini Edizioni's Masterclass Week in Livorno, Italy. Belier is a member of Atelier Néerlandais in Paris and has served as a curator of photo exhibitions at De Engelbewaarder in Amsterdam since October 2023.

Artist Statement

My work mainly revolves around the human psyche and conveying profound emotions, for which we often have no words. A recurring element in my photography is the language of movement. The stories are raw and personal, but at the same time universal and recognizable. I look for images in which I recognize myself. That can be in a movement, but also the environment can reflect what I feel on the inside.

Coming up & Current
2024 | 24 till 26 May, Exhibition ‘Ode to Joy’ group exhibition Amsterdam - NL

Exhibition /Festivals Past

2024 | Leipzig Photobookfestival, Selfpublishers United - DE
2024 | Reflection of Time (Group) Expo at Arti Pop Gallerie, Den Bosch - NL
2024 | Calabro Gallery, Group Openings Exhibition, Zurich - CH
2023 | DRUK Art-book Festival, Paradiso, Amsterdam - NL
2023 | Pim Pam Foto Festival, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’, Barcelona - ES
2023 | Solo Exhibition & release second edition of ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ De Engelbewaarder, curated by Evelien Schotsman - Amsterdam,NL
2023 | Arle Les Rencontres Photo Festival, Represented by Tipi Photobook shop - FR
2023 | Paris Photo, Polycopies, Paris, with ‘Where the spirit meets the bone, represented by Setanta books, - FR
2023 | OFF Bratislava photo festival ‘Where the spirits meets the bone’, Bratislava - SK
2023 | Haute Photography Book launch & group exhibition FRESH EYES, international talent by GUP, Amsterdam - NL
2023 | UNSEEN book market, Westergasfabriek, with ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ , Amsterdam - NL
2023 | Expo Emergo, graduation exhibition, Loods 6 - Amsterdam - NL
2023 | My Girl with the Pearl, Mauritshuis, Den Haag - NL
2022 | Het Oog, group exhibition, Fotoacademie, Amsterdam - NL

Awards / Grants / Nominations

2024 | FAPA Fine Art Photography Award Nominations
2024 | Athens Photofestival shortlisted- GR
2024 | The Artist photo book, selected by Origini Edizioni - IT
2024 | Monochrome Awards, Honorable Mention, Professional Conceptual Category 2024
2023 | IPA, Official Selection in the International Photography Awards 2023
2023 | Fresh Eyes international talent, powered by GUP - NL
2023 | OFFBratislava, OFF Libris, Selected to be showcased ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - SK

Publications / Clients / Features

2024 | Photo art books Recommendation List ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - ES
2024 I Dance For you Magazine, Printed publication ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - DE
2023 | Robin Titchener’s Photo Book List 2023 - UK
2023 | Photo 31, Sunday with Monique Belier, online feature - NL
2023 | Darkroom Session Newsletter by Isabel Hernández, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - ES
2023 | Kiekie Tabloid, Publication book ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - NL
2023 | Book, Camera Acting, Roel Twijnstra, Publication portrait of Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Safelight Paper, Project (book) ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ (website stories and instagram) - DE
2023 | PF photo magazine, Books - NL
2023 | Fotolab Kiekie, insta take over - NL
2023 | Parool, PS magazine, ‘Het beste volgens PS’ ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ - NL
2023 | Gup Fresh Eyes, Publication - NL
2023 | Dans Magazine, Publication ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’ Printed Photo series - NL
2023 | Dansdocent.nu, ‘Where the spirit meets the bone’, Printed Photo series - NL
2023 | Artists-Ability, Press photos Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Interview Playboy, Portrait of Andre Dongelmans - NL
2023 | Mauritshuis Den Haag, ‘My girl with the pearl’ Photo feature - NL
2023 | Carli Singer & Songwriter, Cover Art - NL
2023 | Photo Vogue Italia, Digital Photo Feature - IT
2023 | Galerie Calabrovska Zurich, Artist in Focus, Online Feature - CH

2022 | WestFries Krant Newspaper, Westfries Portret (monthly column) - NL
2022 | Photo Vogue Italia, Digital Photo Feature - IT
2022 | Kunstbende, Roscharch Collective, Portrait - NL

2021 | NHD Vrij magazine, Zomerbijlage, Printed interview - NL
2021 | NH-Nieuws, Small Town Boy, Published Project - NL
2021 | De Drom, Newspaper, Small Town Boy, Printed Project - NL
2021 | NRC, Newspaper ‘Small Town Boy’ Printed Project & Interview - NL
2021 | Cinecrowd filmproject, De dansende man’, Andrè Dongelmans, Online publication - NL

2020 | Dupho newsletter (Mei 2020), Online Photo Feature - NL
2020 | Merik Spitteler, Singer & Songwriter, Cover Art - NL

2019 | Tenachon, ‘Sterke Vrouw’, Seven Portraits, Printed Publication - NL

2018 | Zoom.nl, Course book, sluitertijd & diafragma, Printed Publication - NL

Bookshops, Libraries / Points of sale

Huis Marseille (Amsterdam), The Photo Book Corner (Lisbon), Tipi Bookshop (Brussels), Maria Inc (Barcelona), Self Publishers United (Amsterdam), Leporello Bookshop (Rome), Athenaeum Boekhandel (Amsterdam), Setanta Books (London), LE BAL Books (Paris), Guest Editions (London), Fotohof Photo Library (Salzburg), Serchia Gallery (Bristol) FOAM (Amsterdam)

Writing

2022 | Monthly Column West Frisian Newspaper
2019 | Godijn Publishing, Short story ‘The Hike’ Short story novel ‘Verloren zielen’
2018 | Godijn Publishing, Short Story ‘Ben’ Short story novel ‘Grijze klever’
2018 | Metro Nieuws, Short story ‘Jurk’

Books / Magazines

2023 | Where the spirit meets the bone, edition of 150 self-published (september)
2023 | Where the spirit meets the bone, edition of 100 self-published (sold out)
2021 | Small Town Boy, Magazine, 80 copies (sold out) self-published

Reviews / Interviews / Other

2024 | Review by Volkmar Draeger, Dance For You Magazine - DE
2024 | Book Presentation, Zocherlounge, Bloemendaal - NL
2024 | Curator recurring exhibitions at literair café ‘De Engelbewaarder’ (With Ringel Goslinga, since november 2023) Amsterdam - NL
2024 | Member of Atelier Néerlandais - FR
2023 | Part and founder of lens-based collective ‘Beeldverbond’ - NL
2023 | Represented by Maria Inc. - ES
2023 | Represented by Self Publishers United - NL
2023 | Review by Robin Titchener, Photo book, Where the spirit meets the bone - UK
2023 | Review by Alex Prior, Photo book, Where the spirit meets the bone - UK
2023 | Editors pick Hue & Eye Magazine, Interview Digital - NL

2021 I Interview Talkshow ‘Nieuw Amsterdam’ Pakhuis de Zwijger - NL
2021 I Interview Weeff Radio ‘Small Town Boy’ - NL

Education

2018-2023 | BA Fotoacademie Amsterdam, graduated in may 2023
2019 | Magnum Learning Course, Storytelling, Alec Soth
2018 | Masterclass Lightshaping, Brendan de Clercq
2017 | Pré-course photography digital, Fotoacademie Amsterdam, Mike Harris