Annette Louise Solakoglu is a Swedish-German photographer based in New York. Her work spans documentary and fine art photography, as well as moving images. Solakoglu's contemplative visual language explores how human identity interweaves with both natural elements and built environments, revealing connections that transcend cultural boundaries. Through her lens, she captures the subtle ways people and their surroundings influence each other, inviting reflection on how place and nature become integral to our sense of self.
Exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, her work has received numerous awards, including Best Short Film at Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival, the Humanitarian Award at Cleveland Intl. Film Festival, and the Human Rights Award at the 21st Istanbul Intl. Film Festival. She received an IPA Silver Award and Julia Margaret Cameron Award. Her portraiture series FacesIGraces is held in the permanent collection of the Putnam History Museum.
Solakoglu's photography and writing on art and culture have been featured in Cornucopia Magazine. She holds degrees from Berlin Universität der Künste and Boston University and has taught at Vassar College and Boston University, mentoring a new generation of visual artists.
SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITS AND AWARDS
2024 Prinkipo Mon Amour, Istanbul, Turkey. Group Photography Exhibition, Splendid Palace. (September 9, 2024-January 5, 2025)
2024 Praxis Photo Arts Center, Minneapolis. Motion Blurr, International Juried Group Exhibition (August 17-September 14, 2024)
2024 UNESCO Ocean Decade, New York. Tides of Change, Waves of Hope, International Group Art Show at Fulton Center, NY. (April 1-June 30, 2024)
2024 Şule Gazioğlu Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey. The Ancient Grounds of Ani/Kadim Topraklar: Ani. Exhibition (February-April 2024)
2023 GIDE GIDE, Group Exhibition at Fikret Otyam Cultural Center, Ankara, Turkey. (December 19, 2022-February 19, 2023)
2022 19th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Winner (Street Photography) Juried by Barbara Davidson
2022 Barcelona Foto Biennale, Spain. International Photography Group Exhibition (November 9-27, 2022)
2022 Şule Gazioğlu Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey. Ode To Istanbul, Solo Exhibition (October 20-November 20, 2022) Extended to Dec. 31, 2022
2022 18th Pollux Photography Award, Intl. Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, Honorable Mention (Street Photography)
2022 Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA. Aging as Art, Jury Selection, 2022 National Photography Group Show (September 1-15, 2022)
2022 Tivoli Artists Gallery, Tivoli, New York, Captured Light, Photography Group Show and Co-Curator
2022 Putnam History Museum, Cold Spring, New York, FacesIGraces series acquired for the museum’s permanent collection
2021 Balter Gallery, Garrison Art Center, New York, Solo Show: Faces I Graces (Dec. 4 - Jan. 9, 2022, sold out)
2021 Belfast Photo Festival, recognized as Highly Commended Photographic Artist
2021 Tivoli Artist Gallery, Tivoli, New York, Summertime group exhibit (sold out)
2021 New York Center for Photographic Art, awarded Juror’s Selection (Primary Colors) – juried by Ann M. Jastrab
2020 Bowers Museum, L.A./Santa Ana, California. Aging as Art, 2020 National Photography Group Show
2020 IPA International Photography Awards, Silver Award and Jury Top 5 Selection, Los Angeles
2020 15th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Winner (Self-Portrait) – juried by Elizabeth Avedon
2020 15th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Winner (Street Photography)
2020 PHOTOcentric, Photography Group Exhibition, Garrison Art Center, New York – curated by Robin Rice and Cali Gorevic
2019 Marin Museum of Contemporary Arts, Contemporary Art Group Show, Marin County, CA
2019 IPA International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention (Architecture), Los Angeles
2019 FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain. Pollux Award Exhibit
2019 13th Pollux Photography Award, Intl. Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, Honorable Mention (Architecture)
2019 Loft Artist Gallery, The Shape of Memory, juried tri-state exhibit, Stamford, Connecticut
2019 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Honorable Mentions (Daily Life/Culture/Portrait)
2019 Black Box Gallery, Annual Black and White Photography Exhibit, Portland, Oregon
2013 Skylight Gallery, Stillspot, contemporary art group exhibit, Chelsea, New York
2012 PHOTOcentric, Garrison Art Center, New York – juried by Elizabeth Opalenik and Robert Mann (Robert Mann Gallery, New York)
2011 Istanbul Summer Exhibit, Antrepo 5, Istanbul, Turkey – juried by Christian Hoare, Royal Academy of Arts, London
PUBLISHED WORK/PRESS
2025 Cornucopia Magazine, Issue 67, A Will of Iron: Annette Louise Solakoğlu on the visionary sculptures of İlhan Koman
2024 Praxis Photo Arts Center, Motion Blurr Exhibit Book, featured book cover
2024 Cornucopia Magazine Blog, The Istanbul Modern celebrates Ozan Sağdıç, The Photographer’s Testimony
2024 Cornucopia Magazine, Issue 66, The Season Ticket, Taking Kars by Storm, The Ancient Grounds of Ani.
2024 Image Journal, Issue 120, The Visual Arts, Imagining Water: Myth, Ritual, and a Changing Planet.
2023 Cornucopia Magazine, Issue 65, A Photographer’s Ode to Istanbul: The Poetry of Silence
2022 Cornucopia Magazine Blog, Celebrating the Republic’s 99th Birthday
2021 FACES I GRACES, Exhibition Catalogue, Photographs by Annette Solakoglu, Interviews by Celia Barbour, published by Garrison Art Center, New York
2021 The Current, Interview Faces I Graces Exhibit
2021 The MIT Press/Random House, book cover photo, Glacier Elegies by Jaanika Peerna and Zoe Foster, Cambridge
2020 PHOTOcentric, Garrison Art Center, Exhibition Catalogue by Robin Rice and Cali Gorevic, New York
2019 Black & White: 2019, Exhibition Catalogue by Black Box Gallery, Portland
2018 Ekspress/Delfi News, Artist’s Portrait, Tallinn, Estonia
2017 Ajakiri Mari Women’s Magazine, Artist’s Portrait, Tallinn, Estonia
2015 Terra Nova Books, Storms and Silences by Jaanika Peerna, Heie Treier, Fiona Robinson
2012 PHOTOcentric, Garrison Art Center, Exhibition Catalogue by Elizabeth Opalenik and Robert Mann, New York
2011 Time Out/Beyaz Art, Istanbul Summer Exhibit Catalogue, Antrepo 5 Sanat Limani, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 Ten Speed Press, Book Cover/Sleeve Portrait, The New Steak by Cree LeFavour, Berkeley
2007 Album/CD Cover, Dreamworld by Francesca Beghe, New York
FILM AWARDS AND SCREENINGS — Official credits on IMDB
2013 A Master Builder – Feature Film Executive Producer
Distributer: Criterion Collection
2006 Art in Dialogue – Documentary Director/Producer
20th Pärnu Intl. Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival, Estonia
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tallinn, Estonia
Pärnu Museum of New Art, Estonia
DocPort Film Festical, Prague, Czechia
2003 Without You – 16mm Music Video Director/Producer
Top 25 AC charts. Distribution: ASRC Inc.
2002 Border – 35mm Short Film Director/Producer/Writer
Best Short Film – Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival
Human Rights in Cinema Award - Istanbul Intl. Film Festival
Humanitarian Award – Cleveland Intl. Film Festival
Best Dramatic Short – Arizona Intl. Film Festival
Gold Jury Award – Worldfest Houston
Filmmaker Choice Award – Slamdance Film Festival
Silver Award – Minneapolis/St. Paul Intl. Film Festival
Semi-Finalist – SFG/Scenario Short Script Contest
Rome Independent Film Festival, Italy (Opening Night Film)
1996 Mary’s Melody – 16mm Short Film Director/Producer/Writer
Silver Award – Philadelphia Intl. Film Festival
2nd Place – Sumner Redstone Film Festival, Boston
Aired on Short T.V. (Time Warner Cable Release)
1994 Show Your Love – Documentary Produced for V.P. Al Gore's Family Series
Bronze Apple Award, National Educational Media Festival