About Sander; passionate photographer, artist and teacher
As a Dutch guy I love riding the bike and I don’t own a car. Who needs one in Brussels if you can go by bike or public transport. I was brought up in the Netherlands surrounded by boats, bicycles and a flat line horizon. Now in Belgium, with hills everywhere, and my electric bike on tour.
For jobs outside of Brussels I love traveling by train or I just rent a Cambio car.
As said, next to photography I spend time doing Graphic art, in the darkroom or in my other studio full of etching presses.
In my graphic works, painting and mixed media; the theme of humanity recurs in multiple forms and expressions. Whether it is portrayed through handmade expressive lithographs or atmospheric cinematic stories captured through street photography, the themes of decay and the state of mankind resonate deeply in every image I create.
My never-stopping mind propels me to work on several creative projects simultaneously, and this state of being can itself serve as both a subject and a metaphor. It encompasses various angles, such as ‘concentration,’ ‘focus,’ and the chaotic yet vibrant energy that emerges as permanent states of working and creativity.
That’s also why I love sharing my photography experience with students. Sometimes in a private session but often in groups and even in different languages like French, Dutch or English.
In my work I focus on humans.
This can be the human presence, human acts, the human body. I just love people! (well, most of them). I try bridging art and photography in all my work, journalistic or self initiated free graphic work.
Photography, for me, is more than just a craft—it's the magic of making a 2D representation that takes people’s attention, that makes editors happy, that feels strong and right in the use of color, composition, with visual surprises, details I couldn’t foresee, but that just happen. Photography is my happiness, a way to enjoy every second of the world around me, and also a way to get in contact with people I otherwise would never have met.
Every shot I take is a playful balance of reality and creativity, aiming to stir real emotions and leave you curious. Working with media and corporate clients alike, my goal is always the same: to uncover genuine stories and present them with a fresh, personal touch.
Bridging art and news through photography
Next to photography I re-use my images in other works of art.
I find inspiration in general news pieces, as well as in the background stories surrounding politics, nature, and pressing social issues, literature and art.
Concerning fine art photography, I focus both on traditional analog photography, street photography and even the use of Artificial Intelligence.
I love to do different things, different activities, I use even different materials, and change as often as possible between styles and identities.
This can end up in new photography, but also in paintings, multi media works and graphic work.
Let’s get personal
Playtime, what I do in my spare time.
As told, in my spare time, I passionately create artworks using paint, wax, and clay, while also engaging in graphic works and installations that incorporate etching and lithographic techniques.
Together with two artist friends in Woluwe we share a art studio called Neue Grizzley, and I also share an analog photography lab (darkroom) with three other photographers from Brussels. The lab is called Co’Lab and it’s on the VUB/ULB university’s Usquare premises in Ixelles.
You can discover the analog photography Co’Lab on Facebook and on Instagram and you can find tickets for lessons and open printing nights in the shop.
In addition to these artistic pursuits, I am completely immersed in the fascinating worlds of genealogy, art, and artificial intelligence.
I also dedicates time as a volunteer in several organizations, and find immense joy in sailing and biking.
My goal in life is to maintain a balanced and fulfilling life by using a bicycle as said, and I prefer to limit myself to one or just a few jobs each day to ensure that I stay focused, productive, and genuinely happy.and so I can spend time with my friends and family too.
exhibitions
2025 May Magrafica Antwerp group show. Feb.Carte de Visite 2024 XSmall Schaarbeek group show 2024 April library groups how Etterbeek 2024 June Open air expo Gooik 2023 July Artist route open atelier Woluwe. 2023 June group show RHoK academy. 2023 Student show Elzenhof Streets of Brussels. 2022 3 prints of the XL Staycation project permanent on display. 2022 feb-Juni Erasmus huis groepstentoonstelling 2021 Carte de Visite groepstentoonstelling 2019 oct. cc Schaerbeek group show. 2018 sept. CC Elzenhof Ixelles, solo show. Musee Royale Arts & Histoire Brussels 2017 Ukiyo-e group show 2017 galerie Kunstkot Brussel group show, Brussels Vlaams parlement groepsexpo 2015, Roes & Rituelen project, Schiedam 2005 (NL), galerie Wild (maart-sept 2005) Rotterdam (NL), library Schiedam (feb.2004), De Coöperatie, Schiedam (juni-September 2004), art gallery 300procent (Schiedam feb.-mrt.2004), Noorderlicht festival (Groningen - 2001), Fotofestival Naarden (Naarden - 2000)
published books:
No book (2001) 200 ex.
Artist book 2016 (1/1)
Artist book 2018 (1/1)
The Curve (Riso) 2019 12 ex.
Streets of Brussels (P.O.D., student book) 2023
Personal history
Sander grew up in the woods, in a small village in the Netherlands. His dad was a professor interested in caterpillars and fingerprints, while his mom worked at a sperm bank, where he often invited his classmates to look through a microscope. She also had a darkroom.
As a teenager, he taught sailing and windsurfing during holidays. He studied Cultural Anthropology, served in the army, worked at a camera store for years, and later studied photography at the Royal Art Academy in The Hague.
Sander took up commercial photography in Rotterdam in 2002 before moving to Belgium in 2007. There, he shifted his focus to photojournalism, portrait and event photography.
While working in the media, he attended an art academy to broaden his graphic skills, and learned etching and lithography.
Currently, his artistic work concentrates on topics like Artificial Intelligence, NFTs, bureaucracy, environment and migration, using found and made photography, graphic art, video, and installations.
Sander is a happy freelance photographer, an artist and also a teacher at his own creative organisation called Kunstkot .and for other organisations like Sasasa, Avansa and Mus-e in Brussels and around.
A short video of photographer and artist Sander de Wilde at work in his studio.
Film student Jochem expressed a genuine interest in Sanders’ artistic endeavors and wanted to create a captivating short film showcasing the essence of what he does. He accompanied Sander throughout various moments, capturing footage in his art studio, attending classes alongside him, and documenting a memorable visit to the picturesque city of Oostende with his students.
Student film. Sander at work.
Listen up.
Every now and then, Sander finds himself enthusiastically explaining a little bit about his work on the radio! Yes, you heard that right: photography on the radio… It may sound rather unusual, but these days, we also have various platforms that allow us to share experiences and insights directly online with a wider audience. So this time, he had the opportunity to talk in great detail about his chicken photos, showcasing the captivating charm and vivid personality of these delightful creatures. It’s always a joy to convey their unique stories through the lens.
REVIEWS
What people say about Sanders Photography and his workshops
Big names worked with Sander already. Are you next?
I enjoy working with media outlets, newspapers, and magazines, both online and in print.
