Photographer, artist, activist

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023) is regarded as one of the most influential photographic artists in the Netherlands. His visual language is instantly recognizable: meticulously composed, technically refined, and charged with meaning. With a sharp eye for lighting and mise-en-scène, he was able to bring aesthetics and commitment together.

Olaf was both an artist and a fighter. He stood up for the freedom to be who you are. His fight was waged not only with his camera, but also through film, sculpture, and the queer parties he organized.

The publication Erwin Olaf – Freedom offers an in-depth survey of the full reach of his rich, varied and groundbreaking work, from the early 1980s until just before his death. It is an indispensable book for anyone who views art as a catalyst for change.

With contributions by Charlotte Cotton, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Jonathan Turner, Rein Wolfs and others, as well as conversations with Taco Dibbits, Hans van Manen, Charl Landvreugd and Shirley den Hartog and Els Wuyts.

This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from October 11, 2025, to March 1, 2026.