Nick Hannes was born in Antwerp in 1974. He is based in Ranst, Belgium.
After obtaining a master’s degree in photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent in 1997, Nick worked as a photojournalist for eight years, after which he decided to fully concentrate on self-initiated documentary projects. His photography reflects on major contemporary themes such as migration, globalization, urbanization and crisis.
Nick has published five books: Red Journey (2009) deals with the transitional phase in post-Soviet society; Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man (2014) focuses on the fault lines and crises in the Mediterranean region; Garden of Delight (2018) showcases Dubai as the ultimate playground of globalization and capitalism; An Unexpected Lesson in Joy (2020) is a visual diary of the photographer’s family life during the COVID lockdown; New Capital (2024) is a critical reflection on neoliberal urban development in 6 purpose-built capitals around the world.
Garden of Delight was awarded the Magnum Photography Award in 2017 and the Zeiss Photography Award in 2018. In 2023 he received a World Press Photo Award for his work about the new capital of Egypt.
Nick published in major magazines such as El Pais Semenal, Géo, National Geographic, Paris-Match, Geo, Stern, Vanity Fair, Mare, de Volkskrant, De Standaard and Newsweek Japan.
He exhibited at: FotoMuseum, Antwerp; Breda Photo; Thessaloniki Biennial for Contemporary Art; Fotofestiwal, Lodz; Kaunas Photo; Bozar, Brussels; Flanders Center, Osaka; Organ Vida, Zagreb; Photolux, Lucca; Encontros Da Imagem, Braga; Städtische Galerie, Iserlohn; Centro Andaluz de la Fotografia, Almeria; Head On, Sydney; De Garage, Mechelen; Athens Photo Festival; CajaGranada; Foto Istanbul; Fundacion Tres Culturas, Sevilla; ImageSingulières, Sète; FotoForum, Innsbruck; Festival della Fotografia Etica, Lodi; Medphoto, Rethymno; Triennial of Photography, Hamburg; Photomed, Beirut; Lianzhou Foto Festival; Cortona on the Move, Italy; Be-Part Waregem, among others.
Since 2008, he has taught documentary photography at KASK/The School of Arts in Ghent, Belgium.
Nick is represented by Panos Pictures (London).