Let us tell you about this Fine Art Photographer
About Arjan Spannenburg
In the fine art photography of Arjan Spannenburg (b. 1978, Texel), the search for identity and self-expression is paramount. He does not seek the perfect picture, but the unvarnished truth. His work illuminates moments that often remain invisible: the silent struggle of growing up, the fragility of self-discovery, and the courage required to be truly vulnerable.
Spannenburg portrays adolescents standing on the threshold of adulthood. We see them in a liminal phase, alone with their thoughts, searching for who they are. Yet, within this isolation, the subjects radiate a profound need for connection, a silent cry for support, understanding, and love. It is in this transition zone, where the masks briefly fall away, that Spannenburg finds true beauty.
His images are not fleeting snapshots but staged moments of stillness. He invites the viewer to look beyond the physical form. In his work, the naked body is never an end in itself, but a vessel to reveal purity and defenselessness. It is an invitation to empathy in a world that is increasingly hardening.
From the Battlefield to the Arts
The path to artistry was not a straight line for Arjan Spannenburg. Since 1998, he served in the military, rising from soldier to Major, a career defined by discipline, hierarchy, and camaraderie. The absolute turning point came after his deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. Upon his return, he felt a profound necessity to tell stories in a radically different, more personal way.
He decided to change course completely, enrolling at the Fotoacademie Amsterdam in 2013. It was here that he developed his distinctive signature style. Upon his graduation in 2018, his talent was immediately recognized by the renowned ZERP Galerie in Rotterdam, which has represented him in the international art world ever since.
Vulnerability as a Weapon
Working from his studio in Almere, Arjan focuses on autonomous projects such as ESTRANGED. His military background still resonates in his artistic process: utterly conscientious, hyper-focused, and with an obsessive eye for detail, only now, he wields vulnerability as his weapon.
His work finds its way to prominent positions within the art market. His photography is regularly exhibited at leading art fairs and museums, including Museum Tongerlehuys, Paratissima (Turin), the art'otel galleries (Germany, Netherland & UK), PAN Amsterdam, and Kunstlinie Almere.
For Collectors
Arjan Spannenburg’s autonomous work is released in limited editions to ensure exclusivity and investment value. Every piece is produced according to the highest museum standards.
- Representation: The work is exclusively represented by ZERP Galerie in Rotterdam.
- Specifications: For inquiries regarding available editions, archival finishing (such as Diasec and museum glass), and certification, please refer to the FAQ or contact the gallery directly.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
- 2013 – 2018: Alumnus Fotoacademie, Amsterdam (Specialization: Autonomous Art)
Representation
- ZERP Galerie, Rotterdam (Since 2018)
Selected Exhibitions & Fairs
- 2025: PAN Amsterdam (represented by ZERP Galerie)
- 2024: Kunstlinie Almere Flevoland (KAF) - Solo Exhibition: Estranged
- 2023: Paratissima, Turin (Italy)
- Permanent Collection: Works held in various private and corporate collections across Europe.