About Szymon Brodziak

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Szymon Brodziak creates photographic worlds in black and white – precise, atmospheric, and meticulously composed. His focus lies above all on the female figure. In his work, he constructs aesthetic spaces where strength, sensuality, and symbolism converge. His images resemble film scenes that were never made – orchestrated, yet emotionally charged and layered with meaning.

Brodziak works with light as a language. His photographs are not mere representations, but projections – deliberate, visually commanding compositions that prompt reflection on identity, perspective, and presence. “What you see is who you are” – for Brodziak, this is not just a title, but a declaration of intent.

His work has been exhibited across the globe, making him the first Polish artist to be shown at the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin. Widely recognized as one of the leading photographers of his generation, Brodziak has received numerous awards – including the title of World’s Best Black & White Campaign Photographer in Cannes, 1st place in the One Eyeland Awards ranking of the world’s top ten black-and-white photographers, as well as multiple medals from the Prix de la Photographie Paris, the Spider Awards USA, and the reFocus Black & White Awards (2024: 9 medals and 3 honorable mentions)

His publications – among them ONE (featuring a personal dedication from June Newton) and What you see is who you are – have earned international acclaim and multiple gold medals. His photographs are held in collections and galleries worldwide – and can also be found in unexpected spaces, such as Room 304 of the Galleria Vik Milano, curated entirely with Brodziak’s monochromatic imagery.

Beyond his artistic practice, Brodziak founded the Brodziak Academy, a platform for creative exchange and photographic education. Here, he shares what has driven him for over 25 years: discipline, vision – and the pursuit of beauty beyond the obvious.

Brodziak is a storyteller in contrast. His photography doesn’t shout – it speaks with unmistakable clarity. It doesn’t seek attention – it commands and sustains it.

VITA

The internationally acclaimed black and white photographer Brodziak was born in 1979 in Poznan, Poland.
After training in economics, he worked in his parents' company and then switched to the agency scene.
His time as an assistant on fashion and advertising shoots gave him the basic knowledge that he now applies to perfection.