Expo

Exhibitions 2025 – Melkweg Expo

The Power of Volendam – 25 Years Later
13 December – 31 December

The Power of Volendam – 25 Years Later is the final chapter of the long-running photography project by Suzan van de Roemer. The exhibition presents new portraits and texts featuring people affected by the 2001 New Year’s Eve fire, reflecting on how their lives have unfolded over a span of 25 years. Together with the earlier chapters, the project forms a powerful documentary record of recovery, resilience and the lasting impact of collective trauma. More info

Class of Coco
8 November – 7 December

Class of Coco presents new work developed during Melkweg Expo’s photography mentorship programme of the same name, created for recently graduated and self-taught photographers. Over the course of six months, participants deepened their artistic practice through collective learning, mentorship and knowledge exchange, with a focus on storytelling, portfolio development and positioning themselves as makers. Guided by mentor Coco Olakunle, the programme culminated in a group exhibition featuring work by Ajiri Ogbovoh, Asmaa El Moudden, Brunei Deneumostier, Hanna ’t Sas, Inya Tennyson, Joaquín Rooze, Studio Hans, Wiaem el Bahri and Yasemin Demirözcan. More info

Concentrated Motion
23 October – 2 November

Concentrated Motion is a solo exhibition by Bodil Ouédraogo, curated by Anne Lakeman. The exhibition brings together three chapters — Porte la Richesse, To Blend, Together and Framed Intimacy — creating space for alternative rhythms and layered forms of self-presentation and identity. Through a combination of imagery, sculptures, textiles and soundscapes, a breathing installation emerges in which bodies move, position themselves and claim space. The exhibition does not present a fixed narrative, but rather a continuous movement between stillness and action. More info

Arty Party: Photography Graduates 2025
13 September – 12 October 2025

Arty Party: Photography Graduates 2025 is a group exhibition spotlighting emerging photographic talent. In collaboration with international scouts from the worlds of photography and contemporary art, Melkweg Expo presents a selection of recently graduated artists from across the Netherlands. The exhibition features fresh and diverse work exploring themes such as identity, heritage, community and self-expression. With contributions by Jasmijn Vermeeren, Yvela Jessica, Malika Badloe, Tyler Chan, Anastasios Vlachos, Đăng-Vũ Đặng, Andrés Sanjuan, Iyanla Etnel and Tim Ross, Arty Party offers a broad and timely view of the next generation of photographers. More info

LEGACIES OF IDENTITY: Queer Histories of Third Genders
Fri 18 July – Sun 24 August

LEGACIES OF IDENTITY: Queer Histories of Third Genders is an exhibition highlighting LGBTQIA+ communities in which third and trans genders have held a recognised place for centuries. Through photography, the exhibition shows how gender expression extends far beyond the Western binary framework, with attention to, among others, the Waria in Indonesia and the Muxes in Mexico. Featuring work by Nelson Morales, Jairo Nicolás Bernal, Sumi Anjuman, Vaughan Larsen, Supranav Dash, JeanPaul Paula, Yoppy Pieter and Su Cassiano, the exhibition underscores the importance of keeping queer histories visible and alive. More info

Why You Left, Who You Left
Fri 23 May – Sun 6 July

Why You Left, Who You Left is a two-part photographic series by Tengbeh Kamara, centred on a personal search for home and family. In this work, Kamara explores why their father returned to Liberia to help rebuild the country after the civil war, and the impact this decision had on the family who remained in the Netherlands. The two chapters reflect, on the one hand, the father’s rediscovered sense of home, and on the other, the experiences of those who were left behind—bringing together compassion, distance and connection. More info

Selection of Dutch Photography ’25
Fri 9 May – Sun 11 May

Selection of Dutch Photography ’25 is a presentation by DuPho, the professional association for photographers in the Netherlands. The selection features work by photographers who were recognised in the annual competition, which highlights the creative identity and diversity of the Dutch photographic landscape. With contributions by, among others, Fidelio Faustino Ferrier, Rob Hornstra, Bonnita Postma, Femke Reijerman, Tengbeh Kamara and a selection of students, the exhibition offers a timely overview of contemporary professional photography in the Netherlands. More info

Everything for the Image
Sat 8 March – Sun 20 April

Everything for the Image is an exhibition by Trees Heil in which identity, desire and self-expression take centre stage from a female and queer perspective. Through photography, video and performance, Heil explores the body as a source of creativity and imagination, viewed through a magic-realist lens. Working in close collaboration with her models, she creates work where vulnerability, transformation and physical expression come together, freeing the body from conventional ways of thinking. More info

Chommie – The Digital Closet
Fri 17 January – Sun 23 February

Chommie – The Digital Closet is an exhibition by Anna Ehrenstein in collaboration with Johannesburg-based queer artists Brian Montshiwa and Mahube Diseko. Through video installations and sculptures, the exhibition explores queer representation in the media and the impact of algorithms on the visibility of LGBTQIA+ identities. Using humour and satire, the work critiques the commercialisation of queerness and invites a critical reflection on digital power structures and possible alternative futures. More info

Events 2025 – Melkweg Expo

Museumnacht – When Bodies Speak: Self vs the Other
Sat 1 November

During Museumnacht, Melkweg Expo presents When Bodies Speak: Self vs the Other, a programme building on the exhibition Concentrated Motion. Through talks, movement, sound and participatory moments, the evening explores how bodies, identity and connection relate to one another. At the heart of the programme is a talk with artist Bodil Ouédraogo and curator Anne Lakeman, complemented by interactive and sensory programme elements that invite reflection and encounter. More info

Concentrated Motion: Phantom Wizard Live
Sun 26 October

Close out ADE at Melkweg Expo with a silent disco set by Phantom Wizard, set within the exhibition Concentrated Motion by Bodil Ouédraogo. Inside the breathing installation—curated by Anne Lakeman—imagery, sculptures, textiles and soundscapes come together, creating space for movement, stillness and alternative rhythms. The live set deepens the exhibition’s layered experience, inviting visitors to listen, move and be present in new ways. More info

Tip Off
Wed 1 October

Tip Off is a gathering for young artists that creates space for exchange, reflection and the sharing of experiences in an informal setting. The theme of this edition, From Graduation to Grounding – How Do We Carry Our Stories into the World?, focuses on the transition from education to professional practice and on how personal narratives and artistic choices take shape within a creative career. With contributions by Yvela Jessica, Zoë Dankert and Stacii Samidin, the evening offers room for conversation, feedback and connection, guided by moderator Isabel Sheridan. More info

Arty Party: Graduation Market
Fri 12 September

As part of the Arty Party programme, Melkweg Expo hosts a graduation market during the opening of Photography Graduates ’25. Recently graduated artists are given the opportunity to present and sell prints, editions, publications and small objects. Featuring work by, among others, Nils Dijkstra, Xen (RAKUS) Cornelissen, Anne-Claire Flora Mackenzie, Maria Bodrug, Hanna Orion, Loukia Chatzopoulou, Nefeli Stavrou, Nikol, Philippa Shire Oudekerk, Elena Marinska, Sep Friesema, Manshee Zheng, Lanxi Berkers, Sarah-Rose Antoun, Julia Bootsgezel, Justyna Jaśkiewicz and Merel Nijhuis. More info

Talk: Mohamad Abdouni
Sat 19 July

In the context of LEGACIES OF IDENTITY: Histories of Third Genders, Pride Photo and Melkweg Expo present a conversation with artist, curator and editor-in-chief Mohamad Abdouni. During this intimate talk, Abdouni discusses his project Trans Histories from Beirut’s Forgotten Pasts and reflects on queer imagery, archives and representation within the SWANA region. The talk is free to attend and offers space for exchange on making forgotten queer histories visible. More info

Opening: MILK SOLO: Prins de Vos
Thu 17 July

On Hold is a photographic series by Prins de Vos portraying trans and non-binary people who are waiting for gender-affirming healthcare. Through this series, Prins visualises the long and often invisible waiting period, giving a face to the people behind the statistics. The project has since evolved into a short documentary in which the portrayed individuals share their own stories. On 17 July, Melkweg Expo hosts a lunch for trans and non-binary people who are currently on waiting lists, creating space to come together and share experiences. More info

Workshop: Stripclub Lifedrawing
Sat 8 March

As part of the exhibition Everything for the Image by Trees Heil, Melkweg Expo hosts the Stripclub Lifedrawing workshop on International Women’s Day. During this session, dancers pose in and around the pole within the exhibition space, while participants draw inspiration from movement, the body and expression. The workshop is open to everyone, with or without drawing experience, and all materials are included. More info

Exhibitions 2024 – Melkweg Expo

Arty Party: Photography Graduates 2024
21 September – 13 October 2024

Arty Party: Photography Graduates 2024 is a group exhibition featuring work by recently graduated photographers from across the Netherlands. The selection was made by the Melkweg Expo team in collaboration with scouts from the Dutch and international art field, including curators and professionals from institutions such as Huis Marseille, FOTODOK and The Grey Space in the Middle. The exhibition presents an overview of new, experimental and urgent photographic work, showing how a new generation of image-makers engages with the world today. More info

This Is The Truth: The Black Queer Masculine Through a Reclaimed Lens – A Prelude
6 July – 25 August 2024

This Is The Truth: The Black Queer Masculine Through a Reclaimed Lens – A Prelude is curated by BSDWCORP, the artistic and social practice of J.G. Basdew. The exhibition features work by Clifford Prince King, Lyle Ashton Harris, Marvel Harris, Stephen Isaac-Wilson, Ajamu X and D’Angelo Lovell Williams.

Through photography and film, the exhibition highlights the complexity of Black queer masculinity, told from the makers’ own perspectives. The exhibition connects past, present and future, celebrating identity, resilience and self-expression beyond dominant narratives. More info

Siblings of the Soil
9 March – 28 April 2024

Siblings of the Soil is an exhibition by Melkweg Expo in collaboration with Bar Bario, featuring work by Tiana Japp, Irina Naji, Maha Eljak, Dina El Zeneiny, Rah Naqvi and Nella Ngingo. The artists explore themes such as ecofeminism, patriarchy, capitalism and climate justice, with a focus on the experiences of women of colour from the Global South. Bringing together a range of disciplines—including photography, painting and installation—the exhibition creates space for perspectives that are often underrepresented in the climate debate. More info

Palm Photo Prize 2024
25 May – 30 June 2024

Palm Photo Prize 2024 is the Dutch edition of the international photography competition organised by Palm* Studios in London, in collaboration with Melkweg Expo. For this edition, 107 photographers were selected for the shortlist by a professional jury including Alastair McKimm, Emma Bowkett, Dana Lixenberg and D. Waife. The exhibition serves as a platform for both emerging and established photographic talent, highlighting the role of the Palm* Photo Prize as a springboard within the international photography scene. More info

Forever and a Day
19 January – 25 February 2024

Forever and a Day is a group exhibition curated by Christian van der Kooy, featuring work by fourteen Ukrainian artists, including Lesha Berezovskiy, Igor Chekachkov, Marynka Dovhanych, Nazar Furyk, Open Group, Evgeniya Laptii, Julie Poly and Mila Teshaieva. The exhibition brings together projects created in Ukraine over the past two years, reflecting on life during war, the loss of future perspectives and the longing for reconstruction. Working across a range of media, the artists explore how time, hope and identity are reshaped under constant threat. More info

Arty Party Graduation Festival 2024
20 September 2024

Arty Party Graduation Festival 2024 is a multidisciplinary graduation festival organised by Melkweg Expo, transforming the entire Melkweg into a stage for new artistic talent. Together with scouts from the art and music fields, Melkweg presented a programme featuring exhibitions, performances, talks and live music. The festival brought together young artists, self-taught makers, professionals and audiences, offering an accessible introduction to the future of the Dutch art and cultural sector. More info

Siblings of the Soil – International Women’s Day
8 March 2024

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Melkweg Expo organised Siblings of the Soil, an evening programme combining an exhibition with music and spoken word. In collaboration with Ampfeminine, Bario Radio and Viva la Vulva, the programme centred the voices and experiences of women of colour within conversations on ecofeminism and climate justice. With contributions from musicians, DJs and spoken word artists, the evening created space for artistic expression, dialogue and solidarity. More info

Exhibitions 2023 – Melkweg Expo

FOLLOW
16 December – 31 December 2023 (external location)

FOLLOW is a personal coaching programme for emerging artists. In this edition, Anna Theunissen, Chris Becher, David Holscher, Iñigo Viu Huguet, Lin Woldendorp, Martijn Kuyvenhoven and Saskia Vervoort were invited to create new work reflecting on the Amsterdam neighbourhood they feel personally connected to—whether as a place where they live, work, grew up, or are otherwise deeply intertwined with. The programme offers participants guidance and space to develop their practice while exploring personal relationships to place and identity. More info

GATHERING MOSS
2 December – 31 December 2023

Gathering Moss is an exhibition by Magnus Monfeldt and Jonas Ohlsson in which the artists explore different facets of fatherhood. Drawing from their shared Swedish background, they present both the joy and hope, as well as the vulnerability and fear, that accompany parenthood. At the heart of the exhibition is a previously unseen 30-minute film installation starring the artists and their children, complemented by drawings, collages, sculptural elements and an earlier video work from 2018. More info

RECHARGE AND REVOLT
19 October – 26 November 2024

Recharge and Revolt is a group exhibition curated by Maria Vtorushina and Anton Shebetko, exploring how rave culture in Ukraine functions as a form of (queer) resistance. The exhibition shows how techno clubs and raves create safe spaces for freedom, self-expression and acceptance—values that are deeply rooted in both the Ukrainian techno scene and the queer community. More info

ARTY PARTY: PHOTOGRAPHY GRADUATES 2023
7 September – 8 October 2023

For Arty Party, the Melkweg Expo team joined forces with scouts from the art field to seek out recently graduated talent from art and music academies across the Netherlands. This resulted in a group exhibition and an accompanying multidisciplinary festival, transforming the entire Melkweg into a stage for the future of the Dutch art world. More info 

LIKE A RIVER
10 June – 6 August 2023

In Like a River, American photographer Daniel Jack Lyons presents an intimate and powerful portrait of trans and queer communities in the Amazon region. Curated by Claire Hoogakker, the exhibition explores themes such as identity, transformation and coming of age, visualising the social and political realities of underrepresented communities in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest. More info

QOQNOOS – YOU CAN’T BURN WOMEN MADE OF FIRE
8 March – 14 May 2023

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, photographer and filmmaker Tina Farifteh curated this exhibition featuring work by female artists from Iran and the Iranian diaspora. QOQNOOS highlights feminist resistance and the ongoing struggle for women’s and human rights, inviting visitors to reflect on solidarity, resilience and the passing on of this fight to future generations. More info

PERFORMING ADULTHOOD
21 January – 26 February 2023

Performing Adulthood is a project by Robin Alysha Clemens that offers insight into the lived world of Generation Z. The exhibition explores how young people present themselves in a world where cameras are constantly present, questioning themes such as identity, coming of age, representation and the tension between looking and being seen. More info

Exhibitions 2022 – Melkweg Expo

Universal Tongue
22 October 2022 – 8 January 2023

Universal Tongue is a large-scale installation by Anouk Kruithof in which dance functions as a universal language connecting people around the world. Drawing on 32 hours of video material—compiled from thousands of dance styles sourced from YouTube and Instagram—Kruithof explores how dance has evolved throughout history within a global media culture. The installation, assembled with the help of fifty researchers from across the globe, breaks with traditional categories such as nation and culture, and reflects on an era defined by constant connectivity, hybridity and exchange. More info

I Went On A Holiday To The Country You Fled From
15 July – 21 August 2022

I Went On A Holiday To The Country You Fled From is a photographic project by Iris Haverkamp Begemann and Alejandra Ortiz, curated by Claire Hoogakker. The series explores how identity and privilege shape freedom of movement and self-expression. By making use of Haverkamp Begemann’s freedom to travel to Mexico, the duo tells the personal story of Ortiz, who fled the country due to unsafe conditions for trans people. The exhibition addresses themes such as migration, inequality and the ongoing struggle for safety and the right to exist. More info

The Ways of Water
3 June – 10 July 2022

The Ways of Water is a group exhibition curated by Colette Olof that explores the complex relationship between humans and water. Through photography and installations, (inter)national artists—including Suzette Bousema, Jana Romanova, Koos Buster, Mazen Al Ashkar and Tina Farifteh—show how climate change, pollution and the depletion of water resources impact our planet. The exhibition highlights both humanity’s dependence on water and the vulnerability of this essential ecosystem. More info

We Don’t Talk
14 April – 22 May 2022

We Don’t Talk is a multimedia solo exhibition by Marjolein Busstra, in which she conducts long-term research into the impact of sexual violence and exploitation on minors. The project consists of a photographic series and accompanying video works, focusing not only on trauma but also on the redefinition of memory. While the documentary aspect centres on breaking through shame and social judgement, the exhibition itself highlights the lasting traces these experiences leave behind. More info

All Flourishing Is Mutual
5 March – 10 April 2022

All Flourishing Is Mutual is a multidisciplinary exhibition curated by Colette Olof in collaboration with Jasper Griepink. The exhibition brings together work by national and international artists, including Mirte van den Bos, Queer Nature and Sissel Marie Tonn. Presented both online and offline, the exhibition explores the interconnectedness between humans and nature, examining how human and more-than-human worlds mutually influence and shape one another. More info

Virtual Virality, Online Intimacy & Digital Detox
15 January – 27 February 2022

Virtual Virality, Online Intimacy & Digital Detox is an exhibition curated by Stein van der Ziel, developed through Melkweg Expo’s Open Call for Curators. Featuring work by, among others, Ali Eslami, Mamali Shafahi, Marge Monko and Valentino Russo, the exhibition reflects on the influence of digital spaces and social media on our self-image, relationships and mental health. Presented both physically and online, the exhibition invites visitors to critically reflect on intimacy, visibility and digital overload. More info