What if a photograph could break out of the frame?
Belgian artist photographer Paul Marnef invites you to discover a rare contemporary artistic offering, exhibited in art galleries and at cultural events throughout Belgium. His new series, Imaginary Planets in Relief, explores the intersection of artistic photography, visual arts, visual installation, and sculptural experimentation.
A Photographic Approach from the Fine Arts
Trained in imagery and nourished by a culture of Fine Arts and art history, Paul Marnef develops a unique vision of the world.
At the intersection of visual arts and contemporary creation, he constructs his photographic works like dreamlike compositions, where each shot is the starting point for a suspended universe.
His new relief collection, presented for the first time at the opening of a contemporary art fair: Art Capital 2025 and at the Salon des Artistes Français at the Grand Palais in Paris, introduces a new interpretation of photography: the image detaches itself from the medium, gains depth, and becomes almost tactile. A work of art in its own right, both mural and spatial.
Between contemporary photography and wall sculpture
Each photographic artwork in the series is based on a precise process, combining:
- Sublimation printing on Chromaluxe for a luminous, vibrant, and lasting finish.
- Custom laser cutting allows for controlled fragmentation of the visual.
- Manually mounted on raised blocks, creating a photographic sculpture that interacts with light and space.
The result sometimes evokes modern art installations or the wall reliefs of a contemporary art museum, while retaining the soul of the photographer: that of the viewer of landscapes, the capture of moments, the creator of visual emotions.
An augmented and immersive work
Paul Marnef extends the artistic experience by offering an augmented reality version of each work.
Simply scan the image with your smartphone to reveal an interactive digital layer: an animated visual, a soundtrack, a poetic message, or a making-of.
This device, combining digital art, contemporary photography, and immersive technology, firmly places this series within the field of multimedia art.
A collection of art photos exhibited and collected
The Imaginary Planets in relief are regularly presented at temporary exhibitions, contemporary art fairs, and artist tours in Belgium.
These artistic creations attract keen interest from gallery owners, art museums, photography centers, contemporary art collectors, and photography enthusiasts.
Some works are available in large formats starting at 90x90 cm, on Alu Chromaluxe, with a fine art finish. Each piece is offered in a limited edition, signed, numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Artist photographer living in Belgium
My work as a professional artist photographer is part of the contemporary art photography movement, at the intersection of disciplines. As a visual artist, I draw inspiration from Pop Art and film photography, as well as from modern visual movements observed in institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, the Palais de Tokyo, or at contemporary art fairs.
My relief works move away from simple art prints: they become photographic wall sculptures, sometimes hung alongside contemporary painters, young visual artists, or even street artists.
A wall art object for contemporary spaces
These sculpted photographic works fit beautifully into a variety of spaces: art galleries, cultural centers, modern art museums, or private homes.
They attract contemporary artists, discerning amateurs, and interior designers seeking powerful visual objects.
These are not simple prints: they are contemporary three-dimensional creations, designed to transform the relationship between image, material, and space.
In line with the contemporary art market
At a time when the photographic art market is structured around limited editions and events such as Paris Photo, Art Brussels, and the Venice Biennale, Paul Marnef offers a personal and poetic vision of contemporary photographic art, in dialogue with the major trends in current visual arts.
His art photographs are now featured in several private collections and are regularly offered for purchase online or in contemporary art galleries.
In summary
✔️ Contemporary artist photographer based in Belgium
✔️ Relief works, limited edition, professional media
✔️ Augmented artistic photography
✔️ Approach close to visual arts, wall design, and installation
✔️ Presence in art galleries, exhibitions, and sales exhibitions
✔️ A rare artistic proposition, never before seen in Belgium.
Exhibition-ready photographic works of art
My fine art prints meet museum standards and are designed to fit equally well in an art center, a contemporary art gallery, a private collection, or a display in a modern and contemporary art museum.
The works can also be considered for art fairs, off-site exhibitions, or even auctions specializing in artistic photography. The sculptural aspect of the pieces distinguishes them from traditional art prints, affirming their place in the current visual art market.
About
Paul Marnef is a visual photographer and creator of Planètes Imaginaires, a poetic series between dream and nature.
His works question the limits of contemporary photography, bringing a narrative, visual, and three-dimensional dimension to it.
He also works with mixed media, explores black and white photography, and regularly exhibits in venues such as galleries, fairs, cultural centers, and festivals dedicated to the visual arts.
Lenoble