Artist Spotlight+
Interviewee: Paolo Verzone
Agency: Agence VU’
Website: http://www.paoloverzone.com
Instagram: @paoloverzone
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BIO:
Paolo Verzone is an accomplished photographer with nearly three decades of experience capturing the world through his lens.
Based in Barcelona, Spain, he has developed a reputation for his long-term projects that explore themes of identity, culture, and environment.
Among his notable works are Seeuropeans (1994–2002), a portrait series of Europeans at the beach, and The Moscow Project (1991–2021), which spans three decades documenting the lives of Muscovites.
His project on cadets from leading European military academies (2009–2014) offers a compelling exploration of youth and European identity, culminating in a book published by La Martinière in 2014.
Since 2009, Verzone has focused on the Arctic, delving into scientific and environmental topics.
His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as National Geographic, Newsweek, Le Monde, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and many others.
His artistry has earned him numerous accolades, including three World Press Photo awards (2000, 2009, 2015) and the Picture of the Year International award in 2023. His photographs are part of esteemed collections at institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, and the Istituto Nazionale della Grafica in Rome.
Verzone’s exhibitions have spanned the globe, with solo shows such as Arctic Zero presented at festivals across Europe, and group exhibitions featured at events like the World Press Photo exhibition and the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie.
In addition to his artistic achievements, he has been a Canon Ambassador since 2017 and became a National Geographic Explorer in 2024.
Paolo Verzone’s work continues to inspire audiences by blending visual storytelling with profound cultural and environmental insights.
In 2025, he served as a judge for the URBAN Photo Awards and was a Special Guest for the themed exhibition Mythography vol. V – Juno, Venus and Vesta during the Trieste Photo Days Festival.
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INTERVIEW:
Paolo Verzone talks about his project Cadets, a profound exploration of European identity through military academies.
Beyond technique, the interview highlights the more “human” side of photography: the delicate process of building trust between photographer and subject, and his improvisational mastery of light that defines his unmistakable style.
In an era of visual saturation, his pursuit of a unique voice offers valuable insight into the evolution of contemporary photographic language.
From the vibrant atmosphere of the Trieste Photo Days festival to the new frontiers of space photography in collaboration with ESA, the interview traces a journey driven by constant curiosity, one that moves from his analogue roots to upcoming Mars missions and his forthcoming exhibition at Gallerie d’Italia.
His advice for young photographers?
Make mistakes.
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Interview conducted during the Trieste Photo Days Festival 2025
