Sarka Vancurova
Photography
About
Sarka Vancurova is a Czech independent photo reporter, visual storyteller and portrait photographer, who has been living in different countries in the world, now lives in North Carolina, USA.
Her work focuses on socially engaged concepts that fight the social injustice and shed the light on people living on the margins of society in different parts the world, with focus on women and children.
She is currently working on visual environmental and women issues stories from India, Peru and teaching Inuit children "photography and visual storytelling" in North Canada, Quebec.
In her subjects, she is always seeking a sense of emotion and mystery.
Her personal projects are about women and children living on the edge of the
society or in countries that tries to undermine them because of the gender inequality.
It is an “activistic” art that searches for the visual strategies of how-to bring attention to those whose suffering and struggles often remain unseen.
She creates images that are open to interpretation and rich in complexity, inviting viewers into an ongoing dialogue and an awareness of human condition.
When she can’t travel and work on assignments for documentary photography,
she also does brand photography for businesses
www.sarkabrandphotography.com
Education
Trainings
2015 - 2016 Master of Photography, St.Joost Art Academy /Breda,The Netherlands, course film and concept
2006- 2010 Bachelor of design (Bdes documentary photography, mention of honour,) Academy of Visual Arts, Hoge school voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2023-2024 Visual storytelling classes with Sebastian Liste, photographer NOOR images
2020-2021 Member of the photo studio Hans Lucas in Paris, under the direction of Wilfrid Estève.
2020-2021 Visual storytelling workshop with Sebastian Liste, photographer of agency Noor Images.
2015-2016 Mentoring project by Dutch portrait photographer, Koos Breukel.
2016 Photoeditor at Trouw, daily newspaper in The Netherlands. (internship).
2009 Photographer at Het Algemeen Dagblad, daily newspaper in The Netherlands. (internship).
2006- 2010 Bachelor of design (Bdes documentary photography, mention of honour,) Academy of Visual Arts, Hoge school voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2023-2024 Visual storytelling classes with Sebastian Liste, photographer NOOR images
2020-2021 Member of the photo studio Hans Lucas in Paris, under the direction of Wilfrid Estève.
2020-2021 Visual storytelling workshop with Sebastian Liste, photographer of agency Noor Images.
2015-2016 Mentoring project by Dutch portrait photographer, Koos Breukel.
2016 Photoeditor at Trouw, daily newspaper in The Netherlands. (internship).
2009 Photographer at Het Algemeen Dagblad, daily newspaper in The Netherlands. (internship).
Stipendium and Grants
2015- 2016 Mentoring grant for emerging artists with Dutch portrait photographer Koos Breukel
2014- 2015 Startstipendium, Work budget Emerging Talent, Mondrian's fund, The Netherlands.
2002- 2003 Work budget, European Commission Young talent, Brugge, Belgium.
2014- 2015 Startstipendium, Work budget Emerging Talent, Mondrian's fund, The Netherlands.
2002- 2003 Work budget, European Commission Young talent, Brugge, Belgium.
Press - Links to the articles
( conducted interviews, in some of them- text and photography)
https://pivot.quebec/2022/08/01/refugies-afghans-donner-un-visage-aux-chiffres-2/?fbclid=IwAR3e3l1qGOxYaNETXCWfa99YurM878v71MTn4zthB2p2hj2G0imW08JaicI
https://pivot.quebec/2022/07/26/refugies-afghans-donner-un-visage-aux-chiffres-1/
https://pivot.quebec/2022/08/08/refugies-afghans-donner-un-visage-aux-chiffres-3/
https://www.pieuvre.ca/2023/11/20/politique-asie-inde-eau-femmes-rajasthan/
https://www.fqji.org/2023
https://www.pieuvre.ca/2023/02/15/politique-mexique-migrants-matamoros-vancurova/
https://www.lapresse.ca/voyage/amerique-latine/2022-11-22/photoreportage/celebrer-les-morts-au-mexique.php
(various images for LaPresse, local newspaper in Montreal)
https://www.lapresse.ca
Expositions Solo
2018 exposition Children of the Revolution project in AKV.St.Joost Academy Gallery, curator Miriam Bestebreurtje, Breda
2012 Gypsies of Sant Cugát, library of Sant Cugát del Vallés, Barcelona.
2011 Long-term project Wilma, Complex Hartloper, Utrecht.
2011 Portraits of the habitants at the Amsterdamse docking company, library Slotervaart 2010 HKU expo.
2008 Portraits from the squatting movement at Theatre Kikker Utrecht, The Netherlands
2007 Portraits from the squatting movement, Mini galerie, Gruttersdijk 28, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2005 Photo expo from the project Never in one place, about the company Time circus, Brugge, Belgium
2003 RosasDanst, pictures of the performances of the company Rosas danst, Concertgebouw Brugge, Belgium 2002 Wijk up, Zeebrugge, St.Pieters and St.Jozef, Brugge 2002, Belgium.
2002 The Emigrants, portraits of refugees, Brugge, Belgium.
2012 Gypsies of Sant Cugát, library of Sant Cugát del Vallés, Barcelona.
2011 Long-term project Wilma, Complex Hartloper, Utrecht.
2011 Portraits of the habitants at the Amsterdamse docking company, library Slotervaart 2010 HKU expo.
2008 Portraits from the squatting movement at Theatre Kikker Utrecht, The Netherlands
2007 Portraits from the squatting movement, Mini galerie, Gruttersdijk 28, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2005 Photo expo from the project Never in one place, about the company Time circus, Brugge, Belgium
2003 RosasDanst, pictures of the performances of the company Rosas danst, Concertgebouw Brugge, Belgium 2002 Wijk up, Zeebrugge, St.Pieters and St.Jozef, Brugge 2002, Belgium.
2002 The Emigrants, portraits of refugees, Brugge, Belgium.
Expositions Group
2026 Eyes on Mainstreet, American Centre for photography, Wilson, NC.
2021 Galerie Orange – Netherlands, series Self-portraits
2017 Médecines Sans Frontières, Then and Now (Unfolding the story of MSF in Lebanon), Beirut
2017 Lauswolt galerry, Olterterp, The Netherlands, expo of my Self-portrait’s series
2017 Peep Show, Self-portrait, Non-profit Art works / Schiedam, Netherlands
2017 Rotterdam Photo festival, series of portraits with the theme Identity 2016 Scene from the marriage,
adaptation of J.Bergmann, short video fragment projected in EYE film museum Amsterdam, as a presentation of the Masters St.Joost Art Academy.
2016 Playing with reality project, at St.Joost, Breda/ Masters photography, video and photo installation.
2016 Projects and prospects- Art Rotterdam (Mondriaan fonds, Children of the revolution).
2015 City exposition Kracht van Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2015 12 photographers -12 streets - 12 provincies, Maria bastion straat Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2014 Various artists –Various work, Open Ateliers Gustoweg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2013 Inside Outside ,1000 Photos Amsterdam.
2013 NDSM series of photographes, Het Plekk, NDSM terrain. The Netherlands.
2012 Body fragments, Institute d’Éstudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya in Barcelona.
2012 Self-portraits, Uit de back festival, Castricum.
2012 project Wilma, International center of photography La Rambla de Raval, Barcelona, Spain.
2012 Self-portraits, Centre de Civic Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain.
2011 project Bare, Café Het Hart, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2010 Het groeien van de klein berk, graduation show 2010, Faculty for Contemporary Art and Design, HKU Utrecht 2003 Bordello, Kunst in de Rosse buurt, Antwerpen,Belgium.
2021 Galerie Orange – Netherlands, series Self-portraits
2017 Médecines Sans Frontières, Then and Now (Unfolding the story of MSF in Lebanon), Beirut
2017 Lauswolt galerry, Olterterp, The Netherlands, expo of my Self-portrait’s series
2017 Peep Show, Self-portrait, Non-profit Art works / Schiedam, Netherlands
2017 Rotterdam Photo festival, series of portraits with the theme Identity 2016 Scene from the marriage,
adaptation of J.Bergmann, short video fragment projected in EYE film museum Amsterdam, as a presentation of the Masters St.Joost Art Academy.
2016 Playing with reality project, at St.Joost, Breda/ Masters photography, video and photo installation.
2016 Projects and prospects- Art Rotterdam (Mondriaan fonds, Children of the revolution).
2015 City exposition Kracht van Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2015 12 photographers -12 streets - 12 provincies, Maria bastion straat Maastricht, The Netherlands.
2014 Various artists –Various work, Open Ateliers Gustoweg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2013 Inside Outside ,1000 Photos Amsterdam.
2013 NDSM series of photographes, Het Plekk, NDSM terrain. The Netherlands.
2012 Body fragments, Institute d’Éstudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya in Barcelona.
2012 Self-portraits, Uit de back festival, Castricum.
2012 project Wilma, International center of photography La Rambla de Raval, Barcelona, Spain.
2012 Self-portraits, Centre de Civic Drassanes, Barcelona, Spain.
2011 project Bare, Café Het Hart, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2010 Het groeien van de klein berk, graduation show 2010, Faculty for Contemporary Art and Design, HKU Utrecht 2003 Bordello, Kunst in de Rosse buurt, Antwerpen,Belgium.
Booklets
2018 Portrait of Wilma / Hague Street news
2016 booklet Children of the revolution documentary project 2016, Prospects &Concepts, Mondrian's fund shows talent
2012 Piel de foto, gypsies of Sant Cugát del Vallés
2011 Dj ́s and vinyl collectors, photobook, 2011, self-published.
2011 ADM boek (Amsterdam Dock society), Utopian place of the squatting scene in Amsterdam.
2010 book about Wilma, graduation project, self-published.
2006-2011 photos and articles in Ravage magazine
2009 photographic journalistic work in AD Algemeen Dagblad/ Rotterdam, daily news
2016 booklet Children of the revolution documentary project 2016, Prospects &Concepts, Mondrian's fund shows talent
2012 Piel de foto, gypsies of Sant Cugát del Vallés
2011 Dj ́s and vinyl collectors, photobook, 2011, self-published.
2011 ADM boek (Amsterdam Dock society), Utopian place of the squatting scene in Amsterdam.
2010 book about Wilma, graduation project, self-published.
2006-2011 photos and articles in Ravage magazine
2009 photographic journalistic work in AD Algemeen Dagblad/ Rotterdam, daily news
Commissions
Photojournalism: magazines and newspapers: Pivot Québec Media, La Presse, Women association-Coalition montréalaise de la marche mondiale des femmes, Montréal
NGO’s and businesses:
NGO’s and businesses:
Solidarité sans frontières, Montréal, Collectif femmes du Québec, Paradox organisation for documentary photography NL,15-38 mediterranee.com, Le Croix, Ravage magazine, Médecines Sans Frontières (Jordan and Lebanon), L'Orient-le Jour, Refugee work (Vluchtelingen werk) Netherlands , Triumphant Mercy- Lebanon.Alzheimer magazine Netherlands, University of Amsterdam
Portrait Studio Sarka Vancurova (sinds 2014-) clients: Kracht van Rotterdam, Spectrum (student organisation) Fotodok Utrecht NL, Reclame bureau Het Heart, Circe films production, D ́Buster company, non-profit organization Trammeland Amsterdam, Film productions Amsterdam- set photography, Nijenhuis eand co, BV film productions,Du Photo Photoweek Amsterdam, Algemeen dagblad Rotterdam, Time circus AntwerpAntwerp Concertgebouw Brugge, ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event)
Portrait Studio Sarka Vancurova (sinds 2014-) clients: Kracht van Rotterdam, Spectrum (student organisation) Fotodok Utrecht NL, Reclame bureau Het Heart, Circe films production, D ́Buster company, non-profit organization Trammeland Amsterdam, Film productions Amsterdam- set photography, Nijenhuis eand co, BV film productions,Du Photo Photoweek Amsterdam, Algemeen dagblad Rotterdam, Time circus AntwerpAntwerp Concertgebouw Brugge, ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event)
Last Updated 24.10.37