About Paul Marnef

Belgian photographic artist – creator of the Imaginary Planets

Paul Marnef develops a body of photographic work that straddles the boundary between the real and the imaginary. Drawing on landscapes, architecture, natural elements, or fragments of everyday life, he constructs circular universes where points of reference shift and photography itself becomes the raw material for creation.

His Imaginary Planets now form the core of an artistic practice that is progressively exploring new territories: abstraction, black and white, relief, augmented reality, and alternative printing processes.

Paul Marnef Photographe Contemporain Belge Z8 P4533

Paul Marnef, Belgian fine-art photographer

From Press Photography to Artistic Creation

Photography has been a part of Paul Marnef’s life for several decades.

His career began in the world of press photography and photojournalism. Notably, he collaborated with the Sipa Press agency and spent many years working in Belgium and France across the fields of news, corporate communications, and international events.

This experience shaped his eye: the ability to observe quickly, anticipate situations, seek out compositions, and capture the moment.

Yet, a need to move beyond documentary photography gradually emerged.

Alongside his professional work, Paul Marnef began experimenting with other forms of imagery. Panoramic photography, perspective manipulation, and the possibilities offered by digital processing gradually became the tools for a more personal creative exploration.

Reality was no longer merely something to be documented.

It became the starting point for artistic creation.

In brief and in pictures

At SM’ART Life in Aix-en-Provence, Paul Marnef presents his artistic world and the research into augmented reality that accompanies his Imaginary Planets.

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The Birth of the Imaginary Planets

The Imaginary Planets gradually emerged from these experiments.

Using photographs taken in real-world locations, Paul Marnef transforms landscapes, cities, architecture, trees, flowers, and everyday details into self-contained, circular worlds.

The planetary form—initially derived from a panoramic photographic process—gradually evolved into a distinct visual language.

Each creation retains a trace of its origin while simultaneously moving away from it. Some works remain immediately recognizable, while others shift our points of reference, evolving toward near-abstraction.

Over time, this body of work has expanded. The Imaginary Planets have given rise to new explorations: black-and-white series, Crystalline Planets, relief works, augmented reality, and experiments with new printing techniques.

Yet, the underlying approach remains rooted in a single idea: starting with reality to offer a new way of seeing it.

→ Discover my artistic approach

Artistic Highlights

Paul Marnef’s work has been exhibited for several years in Belgium and abroad, featuring in galleries, contemporary art fairs, group exhibitions, and artist trails.

Key milestones in his career include multiple appearances at the Affordable Art Fair, gallery exhibitions in Belgium, and his participation in the 2025 Art Capital event at the Grand Palais in Paris, where he is also presenting a relief-style photographic work as part of the IN SITU section.

His creations have also been showcased at fairs and exhibitions in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium, while his work continues to evolve through new series and innovative modes of presentation.

→ Discover the exhibitions and artistic journey

Perspectives on his work

A gallerist's perspective

Bravo, Paul Marnef, for this beautiful site, so full of humanity. Such wonderful photographic works that take us on a journey tinged with dreams and hope.

Patrick M., Gallerist (Paris)