BELA VARADI
PHOTOGRAPHY

DOCUMENTARY BIO & CONTACT
« DOCUMENTARY

BIO

I am a Hungarian-born Roma photographer living in London. My documentary photographs are centred around themes of human rights activism, LGBTQI+ and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) experiences. My photos have been exhibited in Berlin, Milan, Göteborg, London and at the  Glastonbury Festival in 2022, 2023, 2024.


Publications:

Guardian - Hungary’s most deprived people donate blood plasma to survive – photo essay

Balkaninsight - ‘ALL I CAN GIVE IS MY BLOOD’: PLASMA TRADE EXPLOITS HUNGARY’S MOST VULNERABLE

Portrait of Britain, 2023

Doku Books - Best of Documentary & Street Photography, 2023

Searching for Kushti exhibition catalogue, 2022

Carte Blanche Magazine - 2022

J Mane Gallery Magazine -2022

Travellers Times Magazine from 2022


Exhibitions:

Visual Stories - Retrospective exhibition: 4. October, Borsodnadasd, Hungary, 2024

CRUISING UTOPIA: SCENES FROM THE ROMA-QUEER IMAGINATION - Foundation Kai Dikhas & Art Space, Berlin, 2024

In Plain Sight - group exhibition, Dartford, Kent - Mick Jagger Centre, 2024

Dubbelexponerat  Community Festival - Göteborg, 2024

Queer Museum - London, 2024  

Queer Festival Heidelberg exhibition - "Queer Heroes in Focus",  2024

BBA One-Shot Award – Berlin, 2023

Del Sarenge Festival di arte romanì in Triennale - Milan, 2023 

Glastonbury Festival - Atchin Tan, 2024

Glastonbury Festival - Atchin Tan, Lead artist 2023 

Glastonbury Festival - Atchin Tan – 2022

A Town Explores a Book Festival - Hasting, 2022


Cultural Partners:

Romani Cultural and Arts Company, Wales (member)

European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) (member) 


Recent photography awards and nominations: 

‘In Plain Sight’ - Habib Hajallie Arts Council funded mentorship & exhibition project titled  at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford, 2024

Journalism Excellence Awards - Ethical reporting on Roma and fight against racism and antigypsyism through the media - Shortlisted in photojournalism category, 2024

Fine Art Photography Awards - Conceptual 2nd place winner, 2024 

Fine Art Photography Awards - Photojournalism nominee, 2024

Fine Art Photography Awards - Professional Portrait nominee, 2024

ND Awards, Professional People Portrait honorable mention, 2023

Annual Photography Awards - Shortlisted 2024; 

 ND Awards - Shortlisted 2023;  

Moscow Photo Awards - Honourable Mention 2022; 

Fine Art Photography Awards - Photo Journalist Honourable Mention at 2021, 2022, 2023; 


Other awards and nominations:

Shortlisted for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award at the Friends Family & Travellers Awards 2024;  

Grand Prize at the Faces of Poverty Documentary Film Festival, 2011, Budapest 

Contact

PHONE: 07775997465

INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/_vady_1/

EMAIL:  vt.bela@gmail.com

Using Format