I am Paul Marnef, a Belgian fine art photographer. My career in photography began with photojournalism and press photography, before gradually leading me towards a more personal form of artistic creation.
Over the years, my relationship with photography has evolved. After working for many years in the world of photographic agencies, I felt the need to pick up my cameras again and develop an artistic expression that now occupies a central place in my work.
From press photography to artistic creation
Fascinated by photography from the age of 18, I made it my profession and it has never left me. My career began in the world of photo news agencies and photojournalism – in Belgium and France, notably including a collaboration with the prestigious Sipa Press agency.
For many years, I also worked in Belgium and France in the fields of photojournalism, institutional photography and international events.
Yet, although photography has always been at the heart of my professional life, for many years I devoted most of my energy to running, developing and managing photographic agencies. It was a fascinating job, rich in encounters and experiences, but one that gradually distanced me from the actual practice of photography.
Over time, I have also felt a sense of disconnect from a world where appearance, glitz, theatrics and immediacy are increasingly taking precedence over substance. Without denying this journey or the encounters it has brought me, I have felt a growing need to step back, to slow down and to rediscover what initially drew me to photography.
Rediscovering the joy of photography
I simply fancied picking up my cameras again. To rediscover the pleasure of taking photographs for myself, without a commission, without any rush, with no demands other than those of my own eye.
I longed for a freer, more personal form of photography, in which I could take the time to explore, experiment and create.
From the 2000s onwards, my cameras once again became a regular part of my life. Then, from 2010 onwards, panoramic photography led me to create Imaginary Planets.
Panoramic photography, shifts in perspective and the possibilities offered by digital processing have opened up new avenues of experimentation for me. This journey has gradually led me towards artistic creation, whilst never breaking with the foundations of my photographic career.
From studio work to meeting the public
Creating an image is a deeply personal experience. Yet sharing it with the public adds another dimension.
Through a series of exhibitions, I have discovered just how much visitors’ perspectives can enrich my own relationship with my works. Some recognise landscapes in them, others imaginary worlds, memories or emotions that I had not necessarily envisaged at the time of their creation.
These exchanges now form a significant part of my life as an artist. They remind me that a work of art is not limited to the intention of its creator: it also continues its journey through the eyes of those who discover it.
Showcasing my work at art fairs, in galleries and on artist tours, both in Belgium and abroad, has enabled me to have many more such encounters and to test my creations against a wide range of perspectives.
Three stages in particular have marked this journey
One day, whilst having lunch with a colleague from a British press agency, I was given a leg up. He offered to exhibit my work in his wife’s gallery, the Liberty Gallery. And so, in 2015, I took part in my first exhibition, at the Affordable Art Fair Brussels. Two exhibitions in Brussels and one in Stockholm followed in 2018. But at the time, I hadn’t yet fully realised what an opportunity I’d been given.
A few years later, in 2021, I felt a strong desire to exhibit, and it was then that a fateful encounter took place: my meeting with Bernard Pieters, an art collector. Bernard was hosting exhibitors at the Fêtes de la Saint-Martin. He offered me the chance to exhibit at his home the following year and, ever since, I have had the privilege of exhibiting there every year. I enjoyed the spirit of connection, sharing and conviviality at this event so much that, in 2023, I became its community manager for Instagram and Facebook.
I then became involved in the artists’ programme in my local area, Chaumont-Gistoux, where I am also the community manager and a member of the organising committee.
Continue exploring my world
My journey in photography continues to unfold through encounters, discoveries and experimentation. Curiosity and the joy of creating remain my main driving forces to this day.
If you’d like to find out more, I invite you to discover my artistic approach, browse through my works and explore the exhibitions that have marked my career.
You will also find me on other premium, curated online art galleries.
My work is represented in several online art galleries, each chosen for its exacting standards. They maintain a rigorous selection process for the artists they represent and often collaborate directly with partner physical galleries. They provide robust certification guarantees and assure collectors of the authenticity and traceability of each work.
Paul Marnef’s presence on online art platforms
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For an exhibition, a collaboration or any enquiries regarding my works, please feel free to contact me personally.