About
Stefan Bladh is a photographer, filmmaker, and artist based in Stockholm Sweden.
Stefan Bladh’s photographic work embodies a personal exploration of the sublime. Transcending the boundaries of what it means to be human, while inevitably accentuating the temporariness of life.
His documentarian approach seeks to capture the quiet oddities of the everyday. Centering on his pursuit of the present and the intuitive. Through his way of working and his distinctive color palette – he alludes to the still and enigmatic side of existence. By capturing whimsical moments and the subtle tensions of humans and landscapes, Stefan creates ethereal photographs with cinematic drama.
Including completing assignments for various renowned magazines and international news agencies, Stefan has spent the last 20 years on the road. Taking long and impromptu journeys in search of places and people which reconnect him to his own longing and introspection. Bladh’s method is not a planned one. It is more of a reaction that he looks for. A reaction to what he sees and feels, finding himself in the middle of something.
In 2010 he released his first monograph - The Family. A documentary project and book about a nomadic family in Turkey he followed for nearly nine years. A project that got much attention worldwide and was published in magazines such as TIMES.
2017 he published the book Hidden Kingdom. The project was nominated to Oscar Barnack Award as well as the Swedish Photobook of the year 2018.
2019 his film ”Without desire, no image - a portrait of photographer Anders Petersen” had its premiere at Swedish Television, K-Special.
Education
Nordens Fotoskola/Nordens Photoschool 2001-2003. Hola Folkhögskola 2004-2005
Books
1. The Family
Nouvel Publishing ISBN 978-91-978263-0-3. Released april 2010. Awarded with the Swedish design award ”Swedish Book Art” and chosen in Photo-Eyes list Book of the year 2011
2. Irkutsk, Russia 28.06.14
Nouvel Publishing ISBN 978-91-978263-1-0. Released december 2014
3. Hidden Kingdom
Kerber Verlag ISBN 978-3-7356-0395-1. Nouvel Publishing ISBN 978-91-978263-2-7. Released november 2017
4. Tokyo, Japan 2018.02.28
Nouvel Publishing ISBN 978-91-978263-3-4. Released november 2018
5. Envoi
ISBN 978-3-7356-0864-2 Kerber Verlag. ISBN 978-91-978263-4-1 Nouvel Publishing Released oktober 2022
6. Turkiet 100 år - Drama utan slut
ISBN: 978-91-7445-054-52 Atlas förlag. Released April 2023.
Films
Utan längtan ingen bild (Without longing no picture) A portrait of photographer Anders Petersen. 56 min. Premiere June 2019. K-Special SVT 2
Solo Exhibitions
Romskt kulturcentrum, Stockholm, Sweden 2006
Arbetets Museum, Norrköping, Sweden 2007
Galleri London, Uppsala, Sweden 2007
Marmara Otel, Istanbul, Turkey 2007
Marie Laveau, Stockholm, Sweden 2008
Galleri Neun Plus, Berlin, Germany 2008
Galleri Format, Malmö, Sweden 2010
Zita, Stockholm, Sweden 2010
Härnösands Konsthall, Sweden 2011
Luma Kulturhus, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
KG52, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
Istanbul Hatirasi / Fotograf Evi Istanbul 2012
Black Door Gallery, Örebro, Sweden 2012
Gallery RALF, Stockholm, Sweden 2014
Freelens Gallery, Hamburg, Germany 2018
Black Door Gallery, Örebro, Sweden 2020
Galleri Kontrast, Stockholm, Sweden 2022
Group Exhibitions 2002 - 2019
Galleri Optimon, Istanbul, Turkey
Deutsch-Türkisches Forum, Stuttgart, Germany
Galleri Kontrast, Stockholm, Sweden
Bildens Hus, Sundsvall, Sweden
Bursa University, Bursa, Turkey
Yildiz University, Istanbul, Turkey
Silver agency, Stockholm, Sweden
Planket, Stockholm, Sweden
Galleri Kontrast, FRAMED, Sweden
Lodz Photofestival
CFF, Stockholm, Sweden 2019
Galleri Kontrast FRAMED, Sweden 2019
Film screenings
Liljevalchs, Stockholm 2019 - Anders Petersen documentation of exhibition ”Stockholm”
Arvika Konsthall, Arvika 2020 - “Utan Längtan Ingen Bild”
Residences
Atelier de Visu, Marseille, France 2009
L.A.F, Prauge, Czech Republic 2009
Shortlists
Nominated for the Swedish Photo Book Award 2018 (Hidden Kingdom)
Shortlisted and finalist for Elliot Erwitt Fellowship 2016
Shortlisted and finalist Photolucida 2015 with the serie Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Shortlisted for Oscar Barnack Award 2012 with the serie Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Shortlisted Fotofestiwal Final 2012 Lodz with the serie Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Published
GUP 2015 / Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
1000 words blog 2014 / Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Leica Magazine 2012 / Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
TIME Magazine Lightbox / The Family & Kaliningrad / Entropia
The Family https://www.svd.se/a/627f1763-3a26-3aa3-9fea-5c9b2e907bdd/hembesok
Hidden Kingdom, Financial Times https://www.ft.com/content/5d64e964-a6c8-11e8-8ecf-a7ae1beff35b
Bokprojekt ENVOI https://www.verktidskrift.se/bokprojekt-stefan-bladh
Stolthet och solidaritet i Istanbuls slum http://dagensbok.com/2010/03/18/stefan-bladh-the-family/
The Family UR Play https://urplay.se/program/155445-en-bok-en-forfattare-stefan-bladh
A Family Revisited https://time.com/3781488/a-family-revisited/
A long distance runner https://www.wulmagazine.com/photography/stefan-bladh
Illusory Surroundings By Stefan Bladh https://www.ignant.com/tag/stefan-bladh/
The shape of thoughts https://www.phasesmag.com/stefan-bladh/the-shape-of-thoughts/
Hidden Kingdom — Stefan Bladh’s Cinematic Images Are Loaded with an Uncanny Atmosphere https://fotoroom.co/hidden-kingdom-stefan-bladh/
Stefan Bladh constructs alternative realties from his travels across Europe https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/stefan-bladh-hidden-kingdom-photography-281117
Drama utan slut, recension Aftonbladet https://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/bokrecensioner/a/pQllL1/recension-av-turkiet-100-ar-drama-utan-slut-av-bitte-hammargren-och-stefan-bladh
SVT-dokumentär om Anders Petersen https://www.fotosidan.se/cldoc/fotografer/svt-dokumentar-om-anders-petersen.htm
Screenings
Recountres D´Arle 2012 - Oscar Barnack Award / Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Lodz Photofestival 2012 / Hidden Kingdom (Then called Fiction)
Grants
Helge Axson Johnson foundation 2005 and 2018
Längmanska foundation 2006, 2007 and 2011
Swedish Author foundation 2007, 2010 and 2018
Swedish Art Council 2008
Swedish Art Council 2009
Swedish Art Council for 2 year 2010 and 2011
Swedish Art Council for 2 year 2015 and 2016
Swedish Art Council 2020
Swedish Author foundation 2022