Birte Kaufmann

Birte Kaufmann lives and works as a freelance photographer in Cologne (DE). Her focus is on reportage, documentary and portrait photography.

Member of Deutsche Fotografische Akademie since 2016.

Teaching workshops at Lichtblickschool Cologne (DE) since 2015.

Represented with The Travellers by INSTITUTE since 2014.

Before studying photography at Ostkreuzschool with the mentorship from Thomas Sandberg in Berlin (DE) she graduated in social work with the focus on media pedagogics at University of applied science with the mentorship from Professor Dr. Horst Wiedemann in Cologne (DE)

Publications

Monographs    
„The Travellers“ monograph. Kettlerverlag, July 2016.

Contributions
Photo News 2017, Thames & Hudson „Family Photography Now“2016, l`Oeil de la Photographie, aCurator, GUP Magazine,  PDN Photo Annual 2013, Fotomagazin 2013, Conscientious Photo Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine 2012, Camera Austria International Forum (119/2012).

Exhibition catalogues
Blue Sky gallery 2018.
Wir haben Gaeste Fotoraum Koeln 2017.                            
Encontros da Imagem 2016.
Fotofestiwal Lodz 2016.
Wuestenrot Dokumentarfotografie Preis 10 2015.              
Boutographies 2015.
Kolga Tibilisi Photo 2015.
gute aussichten- junge deutsche fotografie 2013/14.
VIPA 2013.
Go Photo – zeitgenoessische Fotografie 2013.
5. Europaeischer Monat der Fotografie (Koerberverlag) 2012.

Exhibitions
2022
upcoming „Gjakmarrje – In the Blood“ Boutographies Montpellier/FR
2021     
„The Travellers“ Odesa Photo Days – German Photography curated by Tina Schelhorn                                         2020
„The Travellers“ Ireland in Frames, Irish Embassy, Berlin/DE
2019
„The Travellers“ 100 Jahre DFA – 1000 Wirklichkeiten – groupexhibition, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg/DE
2018
„Gjakmarrje – In the blood“ groupshow Amanet Triennale Hamburg /DE curated by Carla Erdmann
„Kova M“ – Half a Dozen – Warehouse – Barbado Gallery, Lisboa / PT curated by Boris Eldagson
2017
„Gjakmarrje – In the Blood“ Fotoraum Koeln, Cologne /DE – curated by Tina Schelhorn
„The Travellers“ Kunststiftung BW, Stuttgart / DE
„The Travellers“ Kuenstlerhaus Dortmund F2, Dortmund / DE
„The Travellers“ Eyes on Mainstreet Outdoor Photo Festival in Wilson/USA
2016
„The Travellers“ Blue Sky Gallery, Portland/USA – supported by IFA
„The Travellers“ Encontros da Imagem, Braga/PT
„The Travellers“ Positionen Ostkreuzschule – Photobastei 2.0 Zuerich/CHE                                                           „The Travellers“ Galerie Lichtblick in Cologne/DE
„The Travellers“ Fotofestiwal Lodz/PL
„The Travellers“ Eyes on Mainstreet Outdoor Photo Festival in Wilson/USA
„The Travellers“ Dokumentarfoerderpreis 10 – Museum fuer Photographie, Braunschweig/DE; Stadtmuseum, Muenster/DE; Haus am Luetzowplatz, Berlin/DE
2015
„The Travellers“ Dokumentarfotografie Preis 10, Zeche Zollverein Essen/DE
„The Travellers“ VERSIO Museum fuer verwandte Kunst Cologne/DE
„The Travellers“ Just another Photofestival New Delhi/IN
„The Travellers“ Organ Vida Festival in Zagreb/HR
„The Travellers“ Kolga Photo in Tiblis/GEO
„The Travellers“ BOUTOGRAPHIES – Rencontres Photographiques de Montpellier/FR
2014
„The Travellers“ – How One Thing Leads to Another – group exhibition Critcal Mass/Photolucida at Cordon Potts Gallery, San Francisco/USA; Houston Center for Photography Houston/USA
„The Travellers“ Angkor Photo Festival Siem Reap/KHM
„The Travellers“ Lumixfestival Hannover/DE
„The Travellers“ Abisag Tuellmann Prize 2013 – juried groupexhibition „The Travellers“ Heussenstamm Galerie Frankfurt/Main/DE
„The Travellers“ gute aussichten – young german photography 2013/14 – juried group exhibition Deichtorhallen Hamburg/DE; Goethe Institut Washington DC/USA; Goethe Institut Nicosia/CYP; Museum Villa Stuck Munich/DE; Goethe Institut Mexico City/MX; Institut Francais Milan/IT
„The Travellers“ VIPA – juried group exhibition – Schauraum 11/nullnull in Vienna/AUT
2013
„The Travellers“ gute aussichten – young german photography 2013/14 – juried group exhibition Goethe Institut L.A./USA
„The Travellers“ group exhibition BW Gallery Hannover/DE
„The Travellers“ juried group exhibtion – Favoriten – Fotofestival Mannheim/Ludwigshafen/Heidelberg Einraumhaus Mannheim/DE
„The Travellers“ Newspace Center for Photography’s 2013 – juried exhibition – the works are selected by Sarah Stolfa, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, Portland, Oregon/USA
„The Travellers“ Screening of the Top 12 Portfolio`s of the MRO Foundation Grant Galerie Huit, Rencontres d‘ Arles Festival in Arles/FR
„The Travellers“ Screening at the Voies Off Festival in Arles/FR
„The Travellers“ Photoville – The Fence selected group exhibition Brooklyn Bridge Park in NYC; Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Boston/USA
„The Travellers“ GO PHOTO Young Contemporary Photography – selected group exhibition Schwanenhoefe Duesseldorf/DE
2012
„The Travellers“ European Month of Photography group exhibition echos at former Kaufhaus Maassen Berlin/DE
2007
„The Country of Yam and Cassava“ Stadthaus Am Herriger Tor Erftstadt/DE
2006
„Portraits from Nigeria“ Museum Camera Obscura Muelheim/Ruhr/DE
Artist in Residencies
2016 „Half a Dozen“ Project by Barbado Gallery Lisboa/PT
Collections
Fotografische Sammlung Museum Folkwang, Essen/DE; SZ Bank, Stuttgart/DE; Artothek Erftstadt/DE; private Collections
Awards/ Grants 
Artist grant NRW 2021
Artist grant NRW 2020
VG Bildkunst Artist`s Grant 2016/2
Grant Artcouncil City Cologne 2016
El Award- Encontros da Imagem 2016 Finalist
Border Crossers Grant of the Robert Bosch Foundation 2016
Grand Prix Fotofestiwal Lodz 2016 Finalist
Solaprize 2015 Shortlisted
Encontros da Imagem- El Award 2015 honorable mention
Kolga Award 2015 Shortlisted
Mediaprize in the Category Photo of Kindernothilfe 2014 Winner
Emerging Photographer Fund 2014 Runner Up
Alfred Fried Photography Award 2014 Finalist
CNN Journalist Award 2014 Category Photo Winner
Leica Oscar Barnack Prize 2014 Preselection
Abisag Tuellmannprize 2013 honorable mention
Critical Mass 2013 Top 50 Winner
Wuestenrot Sponsorship Award in Documentary Photography 2013/14 Winner
gute aussichten- young german photography 2013/14 Winner
1st prize portfolioreview Fotofestival Mannheim/Ludwigshafen/Heidelberg 2013
Vienna International Photo Awards 2013 Shortlisted
Voies Off Prix 2013 Finalist
MRO Foundation for Documantary Grant 2013 Finalist
PDN Annual 2013 Winner
VG Bildkunst Artist`s Grant 2012/2