ERWIN OLAF (1959, Hilversum, Netherlands, 2023, Amsterdam) active in Amsterdam since the early 1980s.
In 1980, he graduated in journalism from Utrecht University.
Olaf became known for the complex and brilliant style of his commercial photography and for the incredible incisiveness of his artistic studio work. He has created campaigns for, among others, Heineken, Diesel (Silver Lion, Cannes in 1999 and 2002 respectively), Lavazza (for which he produced the 2005 calendar), BMW, Microsoft and Nintendo, Louis Vuitton (2010, in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam), Bottega Veneta (2012).

In addition to collaboration with leading fashion magazines, he has received countless awards and honors, including:

• Photographer of the Year – International Color Award (2006)
• Artist of the Year of the Netherlands (Kunstbeeld, 2007)
• Lucie Award USA (2008) per i traguardi raggiunti nella fotografia.

In 2011, he won the prestigious Dutch State Prize for the Arts, the Johannes Vermeer Award, for the high value of his entire body of work.
In 2013, his project won the selection for the new Dutch one-euro coin.

Sue personali sono state esposte nei più famosi musei di Amsterdam, Francoforte, Toronto, Sydney, Bologna, Praga, Antwerp, Lodz (Polonia), Mosca e in gallerie di Madrid, Milano, Parigi, Londra, Hong Kong e New York, dove il 28 febbraio scorso si è conclusa la più recente delle sue mostre personali, presso la galleria Hasted Kraeutler (NY).

Si è spento il 20 settembre 2023, all’età di 64 anni, per complicazioni in seguito ad un trapianto polmonare.