KESSELS, Erik

About the Dutch photo artist, Erik KESSELS (b. 1966, in Roermond, NL)

Erik KESSELS is an artist, designer and curator with a particular interest in photography,. He is "best known as a book publisher specialising in absurdist found photography", extensively publishing his and others' found and vernacular photography. He collects photographs he finds on flea markets, fairs, in junk shops, and online, and appropriates and re-contextualises them. Notable works include the long-running series 'Useful Photography', which he edits with others, and his own In 'Almost Every Picture' - his almost succesful is #7. Parr & Badger include #4 (2006) in the 3rd volume of their photobook history. In 2015 Kessels was shortlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize, for 'Unfinished Father,' along with Trevor PAGLEN, Laura El-TANTAWY, and Tobias ZIELONY.

Photo books by and about the work of Erik KESSELS

'The Many Lives of Erik Kessels' (2017); 'Photobook Phenomenon' (2017); 'Failed it' (2016); 'Unfinished Father' (2015); 'In Almost every Picture. #1-14' (2002-2015); '(Mis) Understanding Photography' (2014); 'Useful Photography. #001-013'; 'Terribly Awesome Photobooks.' (2012); 'Daido Moriyama. Journey For Something (2012, with an essays in english by Erik KESSELS); 'Cahirs. Incl. 'American Zoo', 'Anonymous', 'Bad Food Gone Worse', 'Bangkok Beauties', 'Bombay Beauties', 'Brussels Beauties', 'Couples', 'Photo Cubes', 'Strangers in my Photo Album', and 'Tree Paintings' (2007-2010)