Carine Van Gerven (Belgium, 1966) is an art photographer with a background in art and painting. From a young age, she displayed her creative talents by drawing cartoons on large rolls of wallpaper, winning art competitions, and organizing her own exhibitions with her sister. She wrote fairy tales and poems, laying the foundation for her later artistic career.
Van Gerven studied at the Noord-Limburg Academy of Art and continued her education in painting and monumental art at the Provincial Higher Institute of Art in Hasselt. She graduated with distinction for her thesis, a large mural, and was appointed as a lecturer in art education. Alongside her teaching career, she developed a personal career with regular international exhibitions during various cultural events.
Van Gerven has a deep fascination for 17th-century painting, such as that of Rembrandt. This is reflected in her photography, where she plays with light before the camera. Her works are characterized by unparalleled quality, complexity, and perfectionism. In her work, Carine Van Gerven not only portrays the individual but also current social themes. Each element in her compositions has a symbolic, often poetic, meaning, making her photos captivating both visually and substantively. Her photography books about remarkable women who create a movement in society testify to her commitment to connecting art with social issues.
During a visit to Japan, she was inspired by the funeral culture, which helped her process her own experiences of death and loss. This led to the creation of urns called ‘Urne Facetten’, which won the Funeral Award and helped her close a difficult period. Concept and layering began to take a more prominent place in her work.
In addition to her personal career, in which she regularly exhibits internationally, Van Gerven is also active as the chairperson of the international photo festival ‘Lens op de Mens’ in Pelt, Belgium. This festival, which she founded in 2017, makes photographic art accessible to a wide audience.
As an official FEP art photographer and a member of the national association for professional photographers in Belgium, she has widely recognized influence in the world of photography. Her photos have been exhibited internationally, and she has won numerous awards. She acted as a curator for the International Festival Helphoto in Helsinki, Finland, and was selected four times to participate in the World Photographic Cup.
