Born in Poland
Live in Northern Ireland/North of Ireland
Works Worldwide

mariusz.smiejek@gmail.com

Freelance visual storyteller specialising in the raw narrative of human and social conditions. Noted documentary work explores post conflict communities, refugee and asylum seekers, child slavery, street children, human trafficking, victimised women, dangerous livelihoods, corruption and systemic abuse.

Additionally, he work as a photography tutor in UK, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Portugal and Ghana.

He is founder and volunteer at Between Pictures Project.org

CLIENTS INCLUDE:

Siemens
Deutsche Presse Agentur
Politico
Die Welt
Le Temps
Fotogloria Advertising Agency in Germany
Royal College of Psychiatrists in Belfast
Der Hotelexperte Magazine
Check In Magazine
Northern Ireland Home & Lifestyle Magazine
Wydawnictwo Czarne
Gazeta Wyborcza
and many more...

PUBLICATIONS:

The New York Times
National Geographic
Der Spiegel
The British Journal of Photography
Time
BBC
Politico
Boston Review
Die Welt
Le Temps
The National
Pismo
Kontynenty
Duży Format
Wydawnictwo Czarne
Open Democracy
FotoEvidence
among many others.

HONOURS & AWARDS

2024
Budapest International Foto Awards, First prize in category: Book/People
Hungary

2024
Prix de la Photographie, Paris PX3 First prize in category: Book/People
France

2024
Kolga Tbilisi Award, Shortlisted
Georgia

2024
Gomma Photography Grant, Honorable mention
UK

2024
Tokyo International Foto Awards, First prize in category: Book/People
Japan

2023
Fotopolis, Publication of The Year, Nominated
Poland

2023
Lucie Foundation Photo Book Prize, Finalist in category: Independent First Book
USA

2023
Arts Council of Northern Ireland & The National Lottery, Grant for Ethnic Minority Mentoring & Residency Programme.
UK

2023
International Photography Awards, First prize in category: Book/People
USA

2023
International Photography Awards, Top 5 jury selection
USA

2022
Belfast Photo Festival, Shortlisted
UK & Ireland

2021
Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize created by David Clark Cause with global partner United Nations Human Rights, Finalist
USA

2021
World. Report Award. Documenting Humanity. Festival della Fotografia Etica. Shortlist in category: Spotlight.
Italy

2020
National Geographic Magazine Award. First prize in category: Human and water.
Poland

2019
Arts Council of Northern Ireland & The National Lottery Travel Award.
UK


2019
Monovision Photography Award, Honourable mention in category: Portrait, series.
UK

2018
Grand Press Photo. Second prize in category: Daily life, series.
Poland

2018
Grand Press Photo. Shortlist in category: Portrait.
Poland

2017
Grand Press Photo. Second prize in category: People, series.
Poland

2016
The Other Hundred Project, Educators - UK winner.
China

2015
National Geographic Magazine Award. Special mention in category: Street photography.
Poland

2014
Fotofestiwal Łódz. Honourable mention by Magnum Photos Agency.
Poland

2013
Sony World Photography Awards. Honourable mention.
UK

2013
Sony World Photography Awards. Honourable mention.
UK

2012
International Photography Award. Honourable mention.
USA

2012
National Geographic Magazine Award. First prize in category: Photo Reportage
Poland

2011
National Geographic International Photography Contest. Second prize.
UK & Ireland

EXHIBITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND FESTIVALS
SOLO


2024
Not Surrendering -  Galeria im. Slendzniskich
Bialystok, Poland

2024
Not Surrendering -  Sluzewski Dom Kultury
Warszawa, Poland

2023
Not Surrendering - Belfast Exposed Photo Gallery
UK/North of Ireland

2023
Galamsey - Rybnik Foto Festival
Poland

2023
Not Surrendering - Rybnik Foto Festival
Poland

2023
Not Surrendering - Galeria Centrala
Poznan, Poland

2023
Not Surrendering - Fotofestival Lódz
Poland

2021
Rybnicki Festiwal Fotografi
Poland

2019
FotoCamp
Poland

2019
"Dream Slaves" - Alliance Française d'Accra.
Ghana


2019
"Dream Slaves" Festival - Incontro tra i popoli,
Milan, Italy


2018
"Dream Slaves" 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Bergamo, Italy


2018
"Dream Slaves" Fa La Cosa Giusta
Palermo, Italy

2018
The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, John Hewitt International Summer School, Armagh, UK


2015
Crescent Arts Centre
Belfast,UK


2014/02
Edgerton Performing Arts Center Gallery, Fairfield, SH University
Connecticut, USA


2014/06
- Edgerton Performing Arts Center Gallery Fairfield, SH University
Connecticut, USA

EXHIBITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND FESTIVALS
GROUP


2024
Paris Photography Prize Exhibition
Paris, France

2024
Polarity by Photojournalism Hub
London, UK


2024
Marunouchi Photo Gallery and Art Space
Tokyo, Japan

2024
Photojournalism Hub, Riverside Studios
London, UK

2023
Splashlight Studios, New York, IPA Gala Awards and Exhibition

New York , USA

2023
Belfast Exposed, Photo Book Launch & Artist Talk with Ed Kashi & Malachi O'Doherty
Belfast, UK/North of Ireland

2023
Photo Museum Ireland, Photo Book Launch & Artist Talk with Ed Kashi
Dublin, Ireland

2021
Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Award exhibition. Museum Fotografiska
New York. USA

2021
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibition.
Warsaw, Poland


2019
"Dream Slaves" Fa La Cosa Giusta.
Milan, Italy


2018
Grand Press Photo exhibitions.
Poland


2018
Portraits, Sisters. The Andrews Gallery at Titanic Museum.
Belfast, UK


2018
Portraits, Women of The Peninsula, Georgian Gallery, Ards Arts Center.
Ards, UK


2017
Grand Press Photo exhibitions.
Poland


2017
The Other Hundred - photo book exhibition, Educators.
Hong Kong, China


2015
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibitions.
Poland


2013
Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. Somerset House.
London, UK


2012
National Geographic Magazine contest exhibitions.
Poland


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