Erwin Olaf

author · photographer

Dutch^[1,2,3,4,5] b. 1959, Hilversum, The Netherlands^[1,2,3,4,5] d. 2023, Groningen, The Netherlands^[1,2,3,4,5] active 1980–2023

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023) was an internationally acclaimed Dutch photographic artist and photographer based in Amsterdam. His diverse practice centered on society’s marginalized individuals, including women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. He began his career in the 1980s documenting pre-AIDS gay liberation in Amsterdam's nightlife. Olaf is known for a bold and sometimes controversial approach to equality and social issues. In 2013, he designed the national side of the euro coins for King Willem-Alexander, and in 2017, he served as the official portrait artist for the Dutch royal family. His work has been included in major international collections such as the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, and the Pushkin Museum.^[1,2,3,4,5]

• marginalized individuals
• LGBTQ+ community
• race relations
• economic divisions
• sexuality