BIO


Adrián Švec, originally from Slovakia and currently based in Warsaw, is a graduate of the ITF in Opava, Czech Republic, and Sputnik Photos in Warsaw. Presently, he is pursuing doctoral studies, focusing on the portrait of modern Poland.

His work has been showcased not only in Poland but also internationally, with exhibitions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Turkey, and Thailand. His photography has earned recognition, with several pieces shortlisted for awards in both photography and publication categories. Notably, one of his images from the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris was included in the British The Telegraph yearbook, which featured 26 powerful photos illustrating global events of that year.

His ongoing project 324 Days is a series captured from inside a car while traveling through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Švec reflects on the emotional and psychological dimensions of movement, questioning whether one can ever truly feel at home in multiple places or anywhere at all. Driving becomes both a literal act and a metaphor for navigating life’s transitions, as Švec uses the project to examine themes of voluntary migration, displacement, and the fragmented nature of modern identity.

Confession of a Man is a poignant exploration of gun ownership in Central and Eastern Europe and a deeply personal narrative reflecting on the author's life experiences, particularly his relationship with firearms, his evolving perspective on them, and the impact of significant historical and personal events. 
Beyond his artistic practice, Švec is also an entrepreneur, having founded companies in FinTech, FoodTech, and SalesTech.


Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 2025 INSIDE, 35 YEARS of ITF, Budapest Fotó Fesztival /Budapest (HU)
  • 2023 Many faces of ITF / Czech center / Munich (DE)
  • 2022 Month of Photography Bratislava / Face to Face exhibition / Confession of a Man / Bratislava (SK)
  • 2022 Prague Photo festval / Confession of a Man / Prague (CZ)
  • 2022 Common Opava / Fotofestiwal / Lodz (PL)
  • 2021 Trzy Dekady / Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej BWA / Katowice (PL)
  • 2021 30+ ITF / St. Vaclav Church / Opava (CZ)
  • 2018 "324 Days" / Eastreet / Istanbul (TR)
  • 2018 "324 Days" / Eastreet / Gallery House of Lucie / Bangkok, Thailand
  • 2017 "324 Days" / Warsaw Photo Days / Post Sovieticus / Roadtrip / Gallery Nowe Miejsce (PL)
  • 2017 "324 Days" / Eastreet / Centre for the Meeting of Cultures / Lublin (PL)
  • 2016 La Belle Equip aftermath / Czech Press Photo / Prague (CZ)
  • 2016 La Belle Equip aftermath / Slovak Press Photo / City-hall / Bratislava (SK)
  • 2016 La Belle Equip aftermath / Press News Awards / Open Gallery / Bratislava (SK)

Solo Exhibitions

2025 Rybnik Foto Festival, Galeria Sztuki Rzeczna / Rybnik (PL)

2024 Teleport.je gallery, 34 Photographs from Poland, curated by Štepánka Stein / Prague (CZ)

Publications exhibitions/awards

  • 2025 Zinobraní - self-published photobooks exhibition / 34 Photographs of Everything / Prague (CZ)
  • 2024 foto noviny 67 / Adrián Švec - Polsko bez záruky / exhibition review by Josef Moucha (CZ)
  • 2024 Photo-magazine FOTO 48, interview + portfolio "34 Photographs of Everything" (CZ)
  • 2021 "30 Years of the Institute of Creative Photography" book / Silesian University in Opava (CZ)
  • 2018 Photo-magazine FOTO 34, interview and project “324 days” presentation (CZ)
  • 2018 Post Sovieticus / Warsaw Photo Days / exhibition catalogue (PL)
  • 2017 Eastreet 4 exhibition catalogue (PL)
  • 2016 Sputnik Photos NO. 5 / collective book publication /Sputnik Photos Mentoring, Warsaw (PL)
  • 2015 Paris Aftermath / www.mono.sk / (SK)
  • 2015 "Krv už zaschla, slzy ešte nie”, reportage for the 20th. anniversary of Srebrenica genocide / www.mono.sk / (SK)
  • 2015 The Telegraph / The A to Z of 2015 / Paris aftermath /London (UK)
  • 2015 The Guardian, Paris aftermath / London (UK)

Awards

  • 2024 APhF Dummy Award feat. Witty Books Shortlist for Confession of a Man / shortlist (GR)
  • 2024 Athens Photo Festival / for 34 Photographs of Everything in Poland / shortlist (GR)
  • 2022 OFF Libris / Confession of a Man book shortlisted /Bratislava (SK)
  • 2017 Eastreet / 324 days / Lublin (PL)
  • 2016 Slovak Press Photo /Category NEWS / 2nd place /La   Belle Equip Aftermath / Bratislava (SK)

Books

  • "34 Photographs Of Everything in Poland", self published, 2023
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