Biography
The Rotterdam-based photographer Laura Zalenga (born 1990) is now enjoying worldwide attention and recognition thanks to the explosive spread of her pictures in photo blogs. As an autodidact, she began digital photography in 2009, with a focus on self-portraits from the start. Equipped with an inexhaustible wealth of ideas, Zalenga incessantly questions herself, translating sensitivities, physical changes and injuries as well as spatial situations into an individual visual language that is given additional atmospheric density with the help of digital image processing. The artist avoids the danger of falling into irrelevant, surreal bizarre scenes by creating beguiling picture ideas to which the chosen means are naturally subordinate.
Portraits and self-portraits are juxtaposed with narrative stagings in the great outdoors — or in front of a monochrome gray wall. All in all, Zalenga’s works are characterized by a calm mood and clear visual architecture. She herself describes her style as „silently passionate“. The scenes, often rich in contrasts and bathed in cold colors, are reminiscent of the visual aesthetics of Tim Burton’s films as well as the style of the Twilight film series. It is no coincidence that Laura Zalenga’s pictures now adorn the covers of successful fantasy books or theater posters. The artist has a huge fan base in social networks and is one of those young photographers who make a significant contribution to the image perception of the present.
Curriculum Vitae
1990 | born in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg |
2010–2014 | studies of architecture, Technichal University Munich |
2014– | freelane photo designer |
Laura Zalenga lives and works in Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
Exhibitions (S = Solo show, G = Group exhibition) |
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2024 | „DeKoe Gantar Vogt Zalenga“ (G), Ingo Seufert – Gallery for Contemporary Photography, Munich |
2023 | „Schönheit des Alters“ (S), museum village Kürnbach |
„Don’t look at me“ (S), Sala Communale d’Arte, Trieste | |
2022 | „Female Portraits. Part II“ (G), Ingo Seufert – Gallery for Contemporary Photography, Munich |
2019 | „Schönheit des Alters“ (S), Foyer of the town hall, Biberach; Gedächtniskirche Ummendorf |
„ALTER: vom gelebten LEBEN und der VERGÄNGLICHKEIT“ (G), Galerie Wiedmann, Stuttgart | |
2017 | „A World of my Own“ (G), Ingo Seufert – Gallery for Contemporary Photography, Munich |
„vincent littlehat . perspectives“ (G), Ingo Seufert – Gallery for Contemporary Photography, Munich | |
2016 | „Fotoarbeiten von Simon Gallus und Laura Zalenga“ (G), Galerie Knoll Art, Oberhöfen |
„AugenBlicke“ (S), Museum Laupheim | |
2015 | „Junge Kunst stellt aus“ (G), Das Bureau, Biberach |
„Grimm compact“ (S), Minibar, Biberach | |
2014 | „STROKE“ art fair, Praterinsel, Munich |
„Aufgeschlossen“ (G), Farbenladen, Feierwerk e. V., Munich | |
2013 | „INTRO 15“ (G), Ingo Seufert – Gallery for Contemporary Photography, Munich |
(S) Kultur Fahrschule, Ulm | |
„Mein München“ (G), Farbenladen, Feierwerk e. V., Munich | |
2012 | „Subjektiv durchs Objektiv“ (G), E-Werk, Freiburg i. Breisgau |
2011 | „Let the butterflies cry!” (S), Galerie Winter, Hannover |
Works for print media |
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2013 | poster for „Antigone“, Münchner Volkstheater |
book cover templates for works by Lisa Steppe, John Green and Patrick Eudeline | |
2012–2013 | book cover templates for works by Emma Mills |
2012 | season brochure 2012, La Boite Theatre Company, Brisbane, Australien |
2010–2011 | book cover template for works by Seanan McGuire |
Bibliography (excerpts) |
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2023 | Laura Zalenga: „In Front of the Screen“ IFFR 2023, iffr.com/en/blog/ (2/6/2023) |
2022 | Serah Alabi: „Interview: Konzeptuelle Fotografie mit Laura Zalenga“, mpb.com/de-de/inhalt/interviews/ (8/3/2022) |
2019 | Michael Bremmer: “Ich vermisse das Kleinstadtgefühl dieser Großstadt”, sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/ (7/30/2019) |
„Laura Zalenga“, shotkit.com/laura-zalenga/ (6/2019) | |
Laura Zalenga: „How the Adobe Creative Residency Propelled My Artistic Motivation“, thriveglobal.com/stories/ (4/9/2019) | |
2018 | Serena Fox: „Photographer Laura Zalenga Is Learning to Listen“, create.adobe.com/ (10/26/2018) |
„Photographing Seniors: Photo Walk with A Senior Model and Adobe Creative Resident Laura Zalenga“, creativemornings.com/talks/ (10/24/2018) | |
Laura Zalenga / Katja Kemnitz: „Die Schönheit des Alters“, kwerfeldein.de (10/10/2018) | |
Jill Blackmore Evans: „Photographer Laura Zalenga Wants You to See Old Age Differently“, format.com/magazine/features/photography/ (9/19/2018) | |
2017 | „Meine Tolomeo Story: Laura Zalenga“, artemide.de/tolomeo/storys/laura-zalenga (10/2017) |
Wilfried Just: „Angesagt – Laura Zalenga“, kinderspielmagazin.de (9/6/2017) | |
„Interview, Laura Zalenga – The Evolution of an Artist“, theportfolioshowcase.com/laura-zalenga (9/2017) | |
Cynthia Drescher: „Through the Lens | S04E05 – Laura Zalenga“, adorama.com (8/20/2017) | |
„#DreamBigPrincess Photography Campaign Encourages Kids Around the Globe to Dream Big“, partners.disney.com/dream-big-princess-photo-campaign. Kampagne für Disney zusammen mit Annie Griffiths, Ami Vitale und Luisa Dörr (8/2017) | |
Chris Zacharia: „‘Self-portrait or selfie? They’re not the same’ – Laura Zalenga“, fluxmagazine.com/ (3/2017) | |
2016 | Denise Fernholz: „Grimms Märchen ganz minimalistisch von Laura Zalenga“, stern.de/fotografie/ (12/8/2016) |
Sarah Ann Loreth: „Interview: Key Moments of Classic Fairytales Revealed Through Minimalist Photography“, mymodernmet.com (10/24/2016) | |
2015 | Tilo Jahn: „Laura Zalenga – Freunde in aller Welt“, deutschlandfunknova.de/beitrag/ (9/15/2015) |
Markus Spiering; „Die Photohaus-Interviews: Laura Zalenga zu Besuch in San Francisco“, eyeem.com/blog/ (5/2015) | |
2014 | Luca Rädler: „Laura Zalenga“, ignant.com (9/2/2014) |
2013 | „Fotografie von Laura Zalenga“, ignant.de (8/29/2013) |
„Laura Zalenga: ‚Ich könnte nie für jemand anderen so echt sein‘”, flaremag.de (8/8/2013) | |
“Phlearn Interviews Laura Zalenga”, phlearn.com (7/16/2013) | |
Bettina Pfau: „Laura Zalenga: S-Bahnstation Laim“, sz-jugendseite (6/10/2013) | |
Laura Zalenga: „1001 Strangers“, kwerfeldein.de (4/4/2013) | |
Bettina Pfau: „Laura Zalenga: Pinakothek“, sz-jugendseite.de (3/11/2013) | |
Bettina Pfau: „Laura Zalenga: Ballett“, sz-jugendseite.de (2/4/2013) | |
Laura Zalenga: „Don’t look at me — just feel my soul“, in: Tango – Magazin für Schule und Studium 1 (2013) pp. 37–40 | |
2012 | Khánh Hmoong: “Interview with Laura Zalenga“, shootingfilm.net (12/21/2012) |
„Photographer Focus: Laura Zalenga“, solifestyle.com (11/2012) | |
„Laura Zalenga“ and “An Interview with Laura Zalenga: Photography & Ownership”, hashtagphotographymagazine.co.uk: #photography, Issue 2 November 2012, pp. 20–25 | |
Bettina Pfau: “Auf Knopfdruck gut”, in: Süddeutsche Zeitung (Landkreisausgabe) No. 221 on 24.9.2012, p. 56, and sz-jugendseite.de (9/24/2012) | |
“Laura Zalenga”, zeum-mag.com (8/21/2012) | |
Bettina Pfau: „Laura Zalenga: Englischer Garten“, sz-jugendseite.de (8/20/2012) | |
“An Interview with photographer Laura Zalenga”, positivexposure.com (7/2012) | |
Bettina Pfau: „Laura Zalenga: Alter Nordfriedhof“, sz-jugendseite.de (6/11/2012) | |
Samantha Cliffe: “Haunting portrait photography from Laura Zalenga”, digitalcameraworld.com (2/9/2012) | |
„Laura Zalenga“, worbz.com (1/31/2012) | |
“From Munich with Love: Laura Zalenga”, electru.de (1/17/2012) | |
“Laura Zalenga”, graemagazine.com: Grae Magazine’s Gray Issue, January 2012, S. 70–71 (1/10/2012) | |
2011 | Reem M. Habbab: “Laura Zalenga”, in: Illusory Magazine issue No1 (2011) pp. 59–62 |
“Laura Zalenga – Feel the time”, musetouch.net (6/10/2011) | |
2010 | Alena: “Interview mit Fotografin Laura Zalenga”, happyphoton.de (10/28/2010) |
Prizes / awards / jury memberships |
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2023 | Refocus Photo Award, winner in the category “Conceptual Photographer of the Year” |
Urban Photo Award Trieste, jury membership | |
2021 | Urban Photo Award Trieste, winning Honorable Mention |
SeeMe “Natur/Nature”, competition finalist | |
Sony Lens Competition, jury membership | |
2020 | “Shine a light” photo contest by Fujifilm and Flickr, 2nd place |
Urban Photo Award Trieste, jury membership | |
Photokina Fotowettbewerb Expo 2020, jury membership | |
2019 | Urban Photo Award, jury membership |
2018–2019 | Adobe Creative Residency |
2018 | Picanova Top 100 Photography Award, winner |
2016 | Master of Photography (TV series), 5th place |
2015 | EyeEm Awards, Portrait, 10th place |
2014 | #Flickr12Days, 12th place |
2013 | Flair Magazine photo contest, winner |
2012 | Brooke Shaden contest „emotion“, 2nd place |
2011 | Nikon photo contest, 8th place |
People (selection) |
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Clara Louise, Fabian Buch, Furasoul, Imaginary War, Michael Madsen, Rigna Folk, Secrets of Sin | |
Lecturing (selection) |
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für Sony, Adobe etc. auf: Photokina, TYPO, Forward Festival, UK Photography Show | |
Clients (selection) |
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Adobe, Artemide, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Die Zeit, Disney, Domestika, Facebook Deutschland, Fiat, FinnAir, John Green, La Boite Theatre Brisban, Lufthansa, Maxmara, Mercedes Benz, Münchner Volkstheater, Nido, Patrick Eudeline, Seafolly, Sky Arts, Sony, Tolomeo |
Laura Zalenga
“Don’t look at me — just feel my soul. I want the viewer of my photographs not only to linger on the surface of the picture. My goal is either to whisk them away into my picture or to pass something on from the picture to them: an emotion, a story, a memory. I want to create an invisible connection. For me, my photography is my diary and my therapy. Here I can be myself and exhaust myself. I can tell autobiographical stories in an encrypted way so that few can actually read them.
Kalie Garrett’s photographs have always been my role model when it comes to honest, emotional photography, whereas Lissy Elle Laricchia has always inspired me to try creative, new things and make use of the wonders of modern image processing.“ (Laura Zalenga)