Nick Brandt
About Nick Brandt
Nick Brandt, born in London, England, in 1964, honed his artistic skills by studying Painting and Film at Central St. Martins College of Art in London. He began his career directing music videos, notably for Michael Jackson, including the iconic "Earth Song" in 1995. Frustrated by the limitations of film in fully conveying his deep feelings about the vanishing natural world, he made a pivotal decision in 2001 to dedicate himself entirely to photography. In 2010, he co-founded the non-profit organization Big Life Foundation, dedicated to protecting African ecosystems through collaboration with local communities and combating poaching.
Nick Brandt's Photographic Approach
Brandt's photography deeply explores the profound impact of environmental destruction and climate breakdown. His work highlights how these crises affect both the most vulnerable human populations and the animal and natural world. It serves as a powerful commentary on the detrimental effects of human activity on both the natural world and vulnerable human populations.
In 2001, Nick Brandt decided to fully dedicate himself to photography. He embarked on his initial series, including an emblematic trilogy comprised of On This Earth, A Shadow Falls, and Across The Ravaged Land (2001-2012), all photographed in East Africa. He continued his photographic practice with Inherit the Dust (2016), where he highlighted the contrast between nature and destructive progress, and This Empty World (2019), which revealed a world where cohabitation between humanity and nature becomes increasingly impossible.
Since 2020, Brandt has been dedicated to The Day May Break, an ongoing global series. This powerful project portrays individuals and animals directly affected by climate change and environmental destruction. The chapters to date include: Chapter One (2021): photographed in Kenya and Zimbabwe; Chapter Two (2022): photographed in Bolivia, SINK / RISE; Chapter Three (2023): photographed in Fiji and The Echo of Our Voices; Chapter Four (2024): photographed in Jordan. Nick Brandt develops extensive, multi-chapter projects that allow for in-depth exploration of his themes across different regions and contexts.
Nick Brandt’s Exhibitions
All of Brandt's significant photographic series have been published as art books.
Nick Brandt's works are regularly exhibited internationally in galleries and museums worldwide, including Fotografiska (Stockholm), Fahey/Klein Gallery (Los Angeles), and Edwynn Houk Gallery (New York). His series The Day May Break was recently exhibited at Newlands House Gallery (Petworth), Chungmu Art Center (Seoul), and Fahey/Klein Gallery (Los Angeles). The entire project – Chapters 1 to 4 – will be presented in 2026 at Polka Galerie (Paris) and Gallerie d'Italia (Turin).
Nick Brandt’s series The Day May Break will be shown at Hangar from September 2025 to December 2025. It will be featured in a double exhibition with Charlotte Abramow.
Nick Brandt’s Art Book Publications and Awards
His books, such as On This Earth (2005), A Shadow Falls (2009), and Across the Ravaged Land (2013), have become benchmarks in the field of environmental photography.
Nick Brandt has received numerous awards for his photographic work and environmental commitment, including the Lucie Award for International Photographer of the Year (2009) and the Green Good Design Award (2017).