Marna
I am a visual artist and photographer based in Amsterdam. My work explores the confusion and desire to understand the unwritten rules in my surroundings and in society through a neurodivergent lens. Using photography as a starting point, I visualize my experience of being both an observer and an outsider, while reflecting on autism, neurodiversity, and the fact that there is no single “right” way to think or act.
Education
| 2025 | Master ‘Photography & Society’, KABK Den Haag |
| 2023 | Expert Programma Fotoacademie, Amsterdam ‘Identity & Storytelling’ |
| 2017 – 2021 | Fotoacademie, Amsterdam (4 years) |
| 2021 – 2022 | WorkShowGrow, Online Photography School |
| 2020 | Online workshop ‘Quietly Loud’, Kristine Nyborg & Felicia Chang |
| 2019 | Workshop, Syntax / Semantics with Sarker Protick, iMPACT DOC, Amsterdam |
| 2009-2012 | Grafisch Media Instituut, Amsterdam |
| 2006 | Basic Photography Course, Fotoacademie Amsterdam |
| 2003-2004 | Digital Design, (New Media), St.KAO/Kreft, Haarlem |
| 1994-1996 | Hogeschool v/d Kunsten (BA Fine Arts), Amsterdam |
| 1991-1995 | Hogeschool Amsterdam, Teacher Training in Arts |
Exhibitions/Nominations/Publications
2026
- ‘Fundament’, Group Exhibition, ICK Amsterdam.
2025
- ‘Searching for αὐτός’, Graduation Exhibition, Master Photography & Society, KABK.
2024
- ‘00:00:59’, West Den Haag Contemporary Art, Group Exhibition, Photography & Society, KABK.
- ‘Fragments in Transit’, Beetroot, Thessaloniki, Greece. Group Exhibition, Photography & Society, KABK.
2023
- ‘Regenerate’, International Photofestival Noorderlicht, Groningen. Group Exhibition
2022
- ‘That’s one way of looking at it’, Bookpublisher Bolderãja, Riga Latvia. Exhibition
- ‘Traces’, Photo-Canopy, Confessions The Trinity, Burton-on-Trent, UK. Group Exhibition
- ‘DESPATCH’, New Forest Heritage Centre, Lyndhurst, UK. Group Exhibition
- Publication Workhorse Collective, Zine Issue 3
2021
- ‘Social Intimacy’, The Pomonan. Online Group Exhibition
- ‘The 2021 Favorite Photograph’, Lenscratch. Online Group Exhibition
- Publication, MetropolisM – Verzamelwoede, of de inhaalslag van de dingen
2020
- Nominated Shortlist, Dutch National Portrait Price
- Publication Dutch newspaper Het Parool, ‘No playing outside’ due to Corona
- Publication Photozine Global Zoo, The Phooks
- Mention, Pf Fotografie Magazine #8
2019
- ‘City Limits’, Rotterdam Photo. Group Exhibition
2018
Artist Talks
2023
- ’Giving confusion back to a typical world’
NAR (Nederlands Autisme Register), Amsterdam
2022
- ‘That’s one way of looking at it’
Artist Talk, ISSP, Riga Latvia - ‘Inspiring confusion with photographs’
Artist Talk, A/Artist MediaMatic Amsterdam
Artist Residencies
2023
- Artist-in-residence, Creative Retreat, Groningen, NL
2022
- Artist-in-residence, ISSP Latvia Riga
- Artist-in-residence, Belgrade Art Studio, Serbia
2021
- Artist-in-residence, New Forest UK (WorkShowGrow school)
