Erwin Olaf The Netherlands, 1959-2023

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023, Hilversum – Amsterdam) was a Dutch photographer celebrated for his highly staged and meticulously lit images that merge classical references with contemporary themes. His work explored questions of identity, vulnerability, sexuality, and power, blending the aesthetics of painting with cinematic photography.

Olaf first gained international attention in the 1980s with provocative works addressing LGBTQ+ culture and politics. Later series such as Rain, Grief, Hope, and Im Wald cemented his reputation for emotional intensity and visual precision. His photographs evoke the dramatic chiaroscuro of the Dutch Golden Age while tackling modern-day social realities. Throughout his career, Olaf received major international recognition, including a knighthood in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands. In 2018, he donated nearly 500 works to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, ensuring his legacy within one of the world’s most important collections. Today, his work continues to influence contemporary photography and visual culture globally.

Selected Exhibitions

2025 – Freedom, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

2024 – In Motion, In Stillness, Baró Galeria, Mallorca

2024 – Bigger Than Life, Hamiltons Gallery, London

2022 – FLASH│BACK, Mauritshuis, The Hague

2021 – 12x Erwin Olaf, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

2018 – Retrospective, Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS), São Paulo

2016 – Four Series, National Gallery, Sofia

2014 – The Empire of Illusion, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Rosario, Argentina

1993 – Retrospective, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

1993 – Chessmen, Kunsthal, Rotterdam

Collections

– Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

– Gemeentemuseum / The Hague Museum of Photography, The Hague

– Museum Ludwig, Cologne

– Centraal Museum, Utrecht

– George Eastman Museum, New York

– Centre Pompidou, Paris

– Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art, New York

– Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga

– Fotomuseo, Bogotá

– National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei