Erwin Olaf – Freedom (NL) + Erwin Olaf Magazine

Unique duo of Freedom + the one-off special issue Erwin Olaf Magazine, 150+ contributors, large format (IN DUTCH).

ERWIN OLAF MAGAZINE
Erwin Olaf Magazine is an ode to the life, ideas, and legacy of one of the Netherlands’ most iconic artists.

Stories about love, celebration, farewell, and the courage to be yourself come together with never-before-published work and contributions from his partner, friends, activists, and fellow artists.

Initiated by Iebele van der Meulen, in collaboration with Estate Erwin Olaf and
ANDSTAAT x Mainstudio

FREEDOM
The publication Erwin Olaf – Freedom offers an in-depth survey of the full reach of his rich, varied and groundbreaking work, from the early 1980s until just before his death. It is an indispensable book for anyone who views art as a catalyst for change.

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023) is regarded as one of the most influential photographic artists in the Netherlands. His visual language is instantly recognizable: meticulously composed, technically refined, and charged with meaning. With a sharp eye for lighting and mise-en-scène, he was able to bring aesthetics and commitment together.

Olaf was both an artist and a fighter. He stood up for the freedom to be who you are. His fight was waged not only with his camera, but also through film, sculpture, and the queer parties he organized.

With contributions by Charlotte Cotton, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Jonathan Turner, Rein Wolfs and others, as well as conversations with Taco Dibbits, Hans van Manen, Charl Landvreugd and Shirley den Hartog and Els Wuyts.

This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from October 11, 2025, to March 1, 2026.