Award-winning photographer Matthieu Zellweger grew up in French-speaking Switzerland. His background as a scientist in the field of health and medicine has allowed him to tell stories from a different perspective. As a photographic artist, Zellweger brings a keen eye to the human condition and his poetic insights illuminate the inner landscape of the psyche and make the invisible visible.
Zellweger has received numerous awards. His cinematic images and essays have been widely published and exhibited on three continents. He has published three books: "Secrets of Rice and Water” (2017), "Worlds Beyond" (2019) and "Prière de relire" (2022).
He has travelled extensively and has developed a special interest in Japan’s cultural traditions, particularly the world of sake, which connects the people of Japan with the world of the gods.
Based in Switzerland, he works in French, English, German and Italian. He also has working knowledge of Spanish and Japanese.
Agencies: Haytham Pictures / REA Photo (Paris).
Awards and Distinctions
Swiss Press Photo Award, 2024, 1st place, Category Swiss Stories
"Prière de relire", Galerie de la Cathédrale, Fribourg (Switzerland), December 2023
Siena International Photo Awards, 2022, Remarkable Award "Storyboard" category, "Unconditional Love"
Prix ANI-PixTrakk 2021 / Visas de l'ANI, Shortlisted
Swiss Press Photo Award, 2021, 3rd place, Category Daily Life
"His Name Was Alban", Espace 81, Morges (Switzerland), September 2020
Siena International Photo Awards, 2020, finalist, "Ain’t no shadow so thick"
Px3 Paris Photo Prize, 2020, Honorable Mention (I Chose Life)
Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2019, Honorable Mention (Worlds Beyond - the edit)
Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2019, Honorable Mention (Worlds Beyond - the book)
Px3 Paris Photo Prize, 2019, Honorable Mention (Worlds Beyond - the book)
Vaste Clos - Un journal intime, Les Rencontres de la Photographie, Arles (France), 2018 (as part of the exhibition "Arles, le temps d'une immersion")
The Art of Sake Brewing, Nippon Connection Festival, Frankfurt (Germany), 2018
Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2018, Winner (Bronze Medal - Secrets of Rice and Water)
Secrets of Rice and Water, Geneva International Book Fair 2018
Life Framer, After Dark, 2018, Winner
Siena International Photo Awards, 2017, Remarkable Award
Universal Health Coverage Forum, Tokyo, 2017 (supported by UNDP)
Owada Gallery, Tokyo, 2017
Lucie Award Ceremony, 2016 (screening as part of the successful bid by Burn Magazine)
Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2016, Winner (Silver Medal)
Images for Health by The Lancet, 2015
In Praise Of Shadows, Geneva International Press & Book Fair, 2014
Activist Award, Photo Philanthropy, 2014
Gallery of VII photo agency, New York (2013)
Emerging Photojournalist, proof.org, 2013
Club 44, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), 2011
Photocrati Fund, 2011, Finalist