Steve Bloom is a world-renowned writer, artist and documenter. Born in South Africa in 1953, he first used the camera to portray life there during the apartheid era. He took his pictures to England in 1977 where some of them were subsequently published by the Anti-apartheid Movement and the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, resulting in his political asylum and exile in the UK.
During the late 1980s he co-founded one of London’s leading photographic special effects companies, initially using traditional analogue darkroom techniques. An early adopter of digital retouching when it was first conceived, he quickly built up a world-wide client base and worked on many prestigious campaigns, including the official posters for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
In the early nineties, during a safari holiday, he returned to pure photography when he began photographing animals, and within a short time he had swapped his established city career for the precarious life of an international travelling photographer. Steve Bloom’s concern for the environment is strongly evident in his wildlife images. He strives to capture the animal’s spirit, and blur the lines separating different species. His venture into animal photography was a continuation of his exploration of different genres of photography, and it struck a chord with the general public. His goal was to use images to communicate with the masses, and take photography exhibitions outside galleries.
He has won international awards for his work. Numerous magazine publishers such as Life, Time and National Geographic have featured his pictures. He has had fifteen books published internationally in twenty-one languages and has held numerous exhibitions, including large outdoor exhibitions in city centres. The free outdoor exhibitions, promoting environmental issues, are major events staged in conjunction with city authorities, and attract visitor numbers in the millions.
His return to photographing people resulted in the book Living Africa, published in nine languages in its first edition. Trading Places - The Merchants of Nairobi is a book that features an engaging community and its street art.
He began painting in his late sixties during the pandemic, when he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and coronary heart disease, both of which are being treated successfully. His oil paintings are an affirmation of his commitment to continue making pictures with an underlying edginess, attempting to capture the universal experiences that bind us all together.
Steve Bloom has two adult sons, Dan and Adam. He and his wife Kathy live in Kent, UK.
THE FOLLOWING LINKS TAKE YOU TO EXTERNAL WEBSITES:
EXHIBITIONS - PHOTOGRAPHY
Outdoor Spirit of the Wild exhibitions consisting of 100 giant prints, each 1.8 meters across, floodlit at night, free, and open to the public 24 hours a day.
2015 - Palma, Mallorca: Salvajes exhibition - June 11 - August 11 2015
2014 - Granada, Spain: Salvajes exhibition Alhambra - September 26 - December 2014
2014 - Madrid, Spain: Salvajes exhibition Retiro Park - May 31 - 1 July 2014
2012 –Abbeville, France. Découvrez le Festival de l'Oiseau et de la Nature
2010 – Edinburgh Scotland: St Andrews Square, as part of The Edinburgh Science Festival. 12 March – 16 May
2009 – Barcelona, Spain: Salvejas exhibition - Barcelona Zoo. 28 October - January 2010
2008 – Stavanger, Norway: (European Capital of Culture 2008): Byparken, 19 June – 14 September (3 months)
2007 – Amsterdam, Netherlands: Westermarkt, adjacent to Westerkerk, 18 May – 28 July (2½ months)
2007 – Moscow, Russia: Strasnoy Boulevard, 1 July – 30 September (3 months)
2007 – Stockholm, Sweden: Raoul Wallenbergs Torg, 15 June – 20 November (5 months)
2007 – Oslo, Norway: Raadhusplassen (Town Hall Square), 9 June – 25 October (4½ months)
2007 – Dublin, Ireland: St Stephen's Green, August 18 – 7 October (7 weeks)
2006 – Copenhagen, Denmark: Kongens Nytorv, 16 May – 22 October (5 months) Verified visitor numbers exceeded one million in the first 3 months.
2006 – Leeds, UK: Millennium Square, September – December (3 months)
2005/2006 – Birmingham, UK: Centenary Square, September 2005 – August 2006 (11 months)
2015 - Palma, Mallorca: Salvajes exhibition - June 11 - August 11 2015
2014 - Granada, Spain: Salvajes exhibition Alhambra - September 26 - December 2014
2014 - Madrid, Spain: Salvajes exhibition Retiro Park - May 31 - 1 July 2014
2012 –Abbeville, France. Découvrez le Festival de l'Oiseau et de la Nature
2010 – Edinburgh Scotland: St Andrews Square, as part of The Edinburgh Science Festival. 12 March – 16 May
2009 – Barcelona, Spain: Salvejas exhibition - Barcelona Zoo. 28 October - January 2010
2008 – Stavanger, Norway: (European Capital of Culture 2008): Byparken, 19 June – 14 September (3 months)
2007 – Amsterdam, Netherlands: Westermarkt, adjacent to Westerkerk, 18 May – 28 July (2½ months)
2007 – Moscow, Russia: Strasnoy Boulevard, 1 July – 30 September (3 months)
2007 – Stockholm, Sweden: Raoul Wallenbergs Torg, 15 June – 20 November (5 months)
2007 – Oslo, Norway: Raadhusplassen (Town Hall Square), 9 June – 25 October (4½ months)
2007 – Dublin, Ireland: St Stephen's Green, August 18 – 7 October (7 weeks)
2006 – Copenhagen, Denmark: Kongens Nytorv, 16 May – 22 October (5 months) Verified visitor numbers exceeded one million in the first 3 months.
2006 – Leeds, UK: Millennium Square, September – December (3 months)
2005/2006 – Birmingham, UK: Centenary Square, September 2005 – August 2006 (11 months)
Indoor Exhibitions
2023 - Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. South Africa in the 1970s
2019 - Beaney Gallery - Canterbury. South Africa in the 1970s
2014 – Spirit of the Wild Bosham Gallery, No.1 The High Street, Bosham, West Sussex 15 August - 15 September.
2012 – Beneath the Surface: South Africa in the 1970's London Festival of Photography at The Guardian Gallery 1-28 June.
2011 – Konica Gallery, Tokyo, Japan Spirit of the Wild - September - October.
2010 – Lucy Bell Gallery, St leonards November to December
2010 – Shanghai International Art Photography Exhibition June 2010
2010 – Bangwallop, Salcombe, Devon June to September
2010 – Waterstones, St Margarets Street, Canterbury, UK: 30 May to September
2009 – Man made Images Gallery, Eire: 17 photographs, 27 February – 17 May 2009 (3 months)
2007 – MV Norwegian Pearl: (NCL Cruise Liner), permanent exhibition in main stair gallery, photographs up to 3.8 meters across
2006 – Photoforum: 50 photographs at Russia's largest annual photography fair, Moscow, Russia April/May
2005 – Soulfood Gallery: 30 photographs, Brussels, Belgium 1 May – 30 June (2 months)
2002 – Montier-en-Der Festival, Montier-en-Der, France November 02
1994 – Chorak Café Gallery: London, UK
1979 – Galerie Schmuck & Kunz, Zürich, Switzerland
1978 – Photographers above the Rainbow, Bristol, UK
2014 – Spirit of the Wild Bosham Gallery, No.1 The High Street, Bosham, West Sussex 15 August - 15 September.
2012 – Beneath the Surface: South Africa in the 1970's London Festival of Photography at The Guardian Gallery 1-28 June.
2011 – Konica Gallery, Tokyo, Japan Spirit of the Wild - September - October.
2010 – Lucy Bell Gallery, St leonards November to December
2010 – Shanghai International Art Photography Exhibition June 2010
2010 – Bangwallop, Salcombe, Devon June to September
2010 – Waterstones, St Margarets Street, Canterbury, UK: 30 May to September
2009 – Man made Images Gallery, Eire: 17 photographs, 27 February – 17 May 2009 (3 months)
2007 – MV Norwegian Pearl: (NCL Cruise Liner), permanent exhibition in main stair gallery, photographs up to 3.8 meters across
2006 – Photoforum: 50 photographs at Russia's largest annual photography fair, Moscow, Russia April/May
2005 – Soulfood Gallery: 30 photographs, Brussels, Belgium 1 May – 30 June (2 months)
2002 – Montier-en-Der Festival, Montier-en-Der, France November 02
1994 – Chorak Café Gallery: London, UK
1979 – Galerie Schmuck & Kunz, Zürich, Switzerland
1978 – Photographers above the Rainbow, Bristol, UK
Group Exhibitions
2012 – Natural and Cultural Monuments of the World Museum Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany - April 2011 to October 2012.
2010 – Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London. Tim Andrews at Home
2010 – Raw Vision Gallery, Cape Town: African Odyssey exhibition to coincide with Football World Cup
2008 - Fotonaturis: ‘ One Planet - 20 Looks', Outdoor exhibition, Leiria, Portugal, Sep/Oct 08
2008 – Les Sommets de l'Image, Courchevel, France 15 December 2007 – 15 April 08
2006 – Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery ‘Mursi Tribeswoman with Rifle' & 'Hamar Woman'
2006 – Useful, Cute and Collected: The Photographed Animal, Museum Folkwang, Essen October 2005 – January 2006
2005 – High Life exhibition, BA headquarters, London – 3 of 24 images
2005 – AOP Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
2001 – IDEA Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
2000 – IDEA Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
1999 – BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natural History Museum, London
1996 – BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natural History Museum, London
1986 – Photographers' Gallery, London
1985 – Hamilton's Gallery, London
1980 – Photographers' Gallery, London
1978 – Palais Beau Artes (International Defence and Aid), Brussels
2012 – Natural and Cultural Monuments of the World Museum Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany - April 2011 to October 2012.
2010 – Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London. Tim Andrews at Home
2010 – Raw Vision Gallery, Cape Town: African Odyssey exhibition to coincide with Football World Cup
2008 - Fotonaturis: ‘ One Planet - 20 Looks', Outdoor exhibition, Leiria, Portugal, Sep/Oct 08
2008 – Les Sommets de l'Image, Courchevel, France 15 December 2007 – 15 April 08
2006 – Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery ‘Mursi Tribeswoman with Rifle' & 'Hamar Woman'
2006 – Useful, Cute and Collected: The Photographed Animal, Museum Folkwang, Essen October 2005 – January 2006
2005 – High Life exhibition, BA headquarters, London – 3 of 24 images
2005 – AOP Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
2001 – IDEA Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
2000 – IDEA Awards, Association of Photographers Gallery, London
1999 – BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natural History Museum, London
1996 – BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natural History Museum, London
1986 – Photographers' Gallery, London
1985 – Hamilton's Gallery, London
1980 – Photographers' Gallery, London
1978 – Palais Beau Artes (International Defence and Aid), Brussels
Thank you!