The polish photographer Natalia Kepesz lives and works in Berlin. After graduating in cultural studies and art history at the Humboldt University Berlin, she studied photography at the Ostkreuzschule Berlin. She is a photography student at Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig/Academy of FineArts Leipzig (Klasse Bara).

She uses photography as a means of self-expression to identify with hidden qualities of her character, to better understand her reality, and to express her interpretation of the world around her. By photographing, she transforms her own childhood memories. Growing up was always accompanied by the urge to discover something else.

MEMBER of

bbk-Berlin

VG-Bildkunst

Women Photograph

photo credit: Pola Kepesz

AWARDS / GRANTS

  • 2024 Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents, Finalist

  • 2024 Vonovia Masterclass, Grant

  • 2024 Portraits - Hellerau Photography Award, Finalist

  • 2024 Nikon Fotobus Grant, 3 Prize

  • 2024 Athens Photo Festival, Finalist

  • 2024 Copenhagen Photo Festival, Finalist

  • 2024 Hansel-Mieth-Preis, Finalist

  • 2024 Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreis der Wüstenrot Stiftung, Nomination

  • 2023 C/O Berlin Talent Award Nominee

  • 2022 gute aussichten - junge deutsche fotografie 2021/22, Winner

  • 2022 FUTURES Photography Talent 2022

  • 2022 follow up Grant, Freundeskreis der Photographie, Winner

  • 2022 Photometria Photography Festival, Parallel Voices 2022 – Open Call, Winner

  • 2022 Photo Israel, open call, Winner

  • 2022 Nikon-Noor academy masterclass participation, Paris

  • 2022 Revela’T Festival, first prize Winner

  • 2022 Gomma Grant, documentary works, Finalist

  • 2022 Athens Photo Festival, Finalist

  • 2022 DFA Riverse Portfolio Walk, with Andrea Diefenbach

  • 2022 Helsinki Photo Festival, Finalist

  • 2022 Wiesbadener Fototage, Open Call Winner

  • 2022 Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreis der Wüstenrot Stiftung, Nomination

  • 2022 Deutscher Künstlerbund e.V., Modul D: Digitale Vermittlungsformate, Grant Winner

  • 2021 World Press Photo Contest, Portrait Series 3rd Prize

  • 2021 Portraits - Hellerau Photography Award, Residence Prize

  • 2021 Luis Valtuena Photography Award, Shortlist

  • 2021 Bird in Flight Prize, Finalist

  • 2021 VG-Bildkunst, Research Grant

  • 2021 Art Competition Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, 1st Prize

  • 2021 German Photo Book Award, Bronze in the category student project

  • 2021 Photolucida, Critical Mass 2021, Top 50

  • 2021 Lucie Foundation, The Guardian Project, Project photo series, finalist

  • 2021 Photo Marseille, Prix Maison Blanche, Winner

  • 2021 Profifoto New Talent Award, 21/2, Winner

  • 2021 Der Greif, Artist Feature

  • 2021 IPA, Analog/Film, Portrait, Honorable Mention

  • 2021 OD Photo Prize, Shortlist

  • 2021 Photo Israel, open call, Winner

  • 2021 World Report Award, Documenting Humanity, Future Generation Award, Finalist

  • 2021 Ei Encontros da Imagem, Discovery Awards, projection Finalist

  • 2021 Kuala Lumpur Photo Award, Project Grant Finalist

  • 2021 Life Framer, Youthhood Winner

  • 2021 GUP Fresheyes Talent 2021

  • 2021 Palm Photo Prize, Finalist

  • 2021 All About Photo Awards - Particular Merit Mention

  • 2021 Les Boutographies - rencontres photographiques de Montpellier, “Jury’s Projection” and “Official Selection” Nominee , Les Jours Prize

  • 2021 Noorderlicht Photo Festival, Official Selection/The Makeable Mind, Open Call Winner, NL

  • 2021 Helsinki Photo Festival, Exhibition Winner (the most voted artist)

  • 2021 Belfast Photo Festival, , Exhibition Winner

  • 2021 Belfast Photo Festival, Photobook Winner

  • 2021 DFA Portfoliowalk, Winner

  • 2021 TIFF Festival, honorable mentions

  • 2021 Lensculture, Critic’s Choice 2021, Editors Pick

  • 2021 Hannover Shots, Finalist

  • 2021 The Independent Photographer, Portrait Award, Finalist

  • 2021 Kolga Tbilisi Photo Award, Finalist Conceptual Series

  • 2021 Kolga Tbilisi Photo Award, Finalist One Shot


  • 2020 Lucie Foundation, Photo Taken Scholarship, finalist

  • 2020 Art Competition Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, 3rd Prize

  • 2020 The Independent Photographer, People Award, Editors’ Pick

  • 2020 C/O Berlin Talent Award Nominee

  • 2020 Athens Photo Festival, Finalist


EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024 Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents finalist exhibition, Les Rencontres d’Arles, LUMA Arles, FR

  • 2024 Hellerau Dresden, Finalist exhibition, Dresden, GER

  • 2024 Copenhagen Photo Festival, Copenhagen, DK

  • 2024 SOLO EXHIBITION, FOTOGALERIE Friedrichshain, 24.11.2023-26.01.2024, Berlin, GER

  • 2023 gute aussichten - junge deutsche Fotografie 2021/22, Deichtorhallen, PHOXXI, Hamburg, GER (opening 15.06.2023)

  • 2023 Just Women Photo Exhibition, ImageNation Paris, curated by Slavica Veselinovic, Galerie Joseph Le Palais, Paris, FR (opening 19.05.2023)

  • 2023 IDENTITIES. Portraying the Intangible. EMOP, Kunsthalle Trier, Trier, GER ( 18.05-11.06.2023 - opening 18.05.2023)

  • 2023 RAW Photo Triennale Worpswede, 18.03.23-30.04.23, #reversibility, curated by Lia Darjes and Ludwig Rauch, Galerie Altes Rathaus, Worpswede, GER

  • 2023 gute aussichten - junge deutsche Fotografie 2021/22, 3.12.22-4.6.2023, heimspiel13, Haardter Schloss, Neustadt/Weinstrasse, GER

  • 2022 Just Women Photo Exhibition, curated by Slavica Veselinovic, Milan, IT

  • 2022 Photo Israel, "Action", Tel Aviv, ISR

  • 2022 Revela’T Festival, Barcelona, ESP

  • 2022 Fotogalerie Friedrichshein, “Transition”, group exhibition, Berlin, GER

  • 2022 F3 Freiraum für Fotografie Berlin, “Frauen in Bewegung”, group exhibition, Berlin, GER

  • 2022 Wiesbadener Fototage, Wiesbaden, DE

  • 2022 gute aussichten - junge deutsche Fotografie 2021/22, Landesmuseum Koblenz, GER

  • 2022 Photometria Photography Festival, Parallel Voices 2022, GR

  • 2022 follow up - Grant, Triennale der Fotografie Hamburg, Kraftwerk Bille, Hamburg GER

  • 2022 Photo Israel, "Meeting Point", Amfi Ha'Ga'aton, Nahariya city, ISR

  • 2022 gute aussichten - junge deutsche Fotografie 2021/22, Künstlerhaus Dortmund, GER

  • 2022 Group exhibition, Kunstverein Ellwangen, GER

  • 2022 Hellerau Dresden, Residence Prize exhibition, Dresden, GER


  • 2021 World Press Photo Tour, start 17.04.2021, de Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam

  • 2021 Portraits - Hellerau Photography Award, Finalist exhibition, Dresden, GER

  • 2021 Hellerau Dresden, Residence Prize exhibition, Dresden, GER

  • 2021 Award Winning Exhibition, Willi Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, GER

  • 2021 Photo Israel, "Meeting Point", Tel Aviv, ISR

  • 2021 3SHOTS - The Triptych Photography Festival, online, IT

  • 2021 Imago Lisboa Photo Festival, projection, Lisboa, PRT

  • 2021 Ei Encontros da Imagem, projection, Braga, PRT

  • 2021 Noorderlicht Photo Festival, Official Selection/The Makeable Mind, Museum Heerenveen, NL

  • 2021 Photo Marseille, Marseille, FR

  • 2021 Belfast Photo Festival, Belfast, IRL

  • 2021 Helsinki Photo Festival, Helsinki, FIN

  • 2021 Les Boutographies - rencontres photographiques de Montpellier, “Official Selection” , FR

  • 2021 Les Boutographies - rencontres photographiques de Montpellier, “Jury’s Projection” , FR

  • 2021 Group exhibition, Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie Berlin, GER

  • 2021 Group exhibition (online) , Winter Isolation - Curated by Vanessa Leroy for the Too Tired Project

  • 2021 Riga Photomonth Festival, projection, LV

  • 2020 Award Winning Exhibition, Willi Münzenberg Forum, Berlin, GER

  • 2020 Tag ein Tag aus, Group exhibition, August Bebel Institut, Berlin, GER

  • 2019 Fernwärme, Group exhibition, Schloss Biesdorf, Berlin, GER

  • 2019 Smart as Photography, Zephyr, Group exhibition, Biennale für aktuelle Fotografie Mannheim, GER

  • 2018 Sharing Space(s), Metropolenhaus Feldfünf, Group exhibition, Monat der Fotografie OFF Berlin, GER

  • 2018 Perspektivwechsel Ost, Ori, Group exhibition, Berlin, GER

  • 2018 Bethanien, Group exhibition, Berlin, GER


ARTICLE/PUBLICATION (SELECTION)