Irene Barlian is an independent documentary photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Her documentary photographic interest primarily focuses on social, environmental, cultural, and women's stories. The most significant element of her professional ventures is devoted to personal, long-term projects. Barlian has contributed works to publications worldwide such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Sunday Times, One World, Vice, Reuters, and many more. 

In 2022, Irene was granted the Objectifs Documentary Award while shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award. Her works were recently exhibited at the Objectifs Center in Singapore, the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar Germany, the Jakarta International Photo Festival, and the Bucharest Photo Festival. Irene is a National Geographic Explorer, a part of VII Academy, and Women Photograph, a photography collective centering on women and non-binary visual journalists.

Irene is available for national and international assignment for publication, organization or institution and commercial work for brand. For inquires: irene.barlian@gmail.com

AWARDS/ SHORTLIST/ GRANT

  • 2024 Louis Roederer Foundation Photography for Sustainability Shortlist.

  • 2023 National Geographic Society Grant Recipient.

  • 2022 Leica Oskar Barnack Award Shortlist.

  • 2022 Marilyn Stafford Foto Reportage Award Shortlist.

  • 2022 Objectifs Documentary Award Recipient.

  • 2021 Third Edition Photo Reportage Grant, Eyes on Main Street.

  • 2015 Sienna International Photo Awards Finalist.

EXHIBITION                 

  • 2024 Vernissage of Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Vienna, Austria.

  • 2023 Objectifs Documentary Center, Chapel Gallery, Singapore.

  • 2022 Leica Oskar Barnack Award at Ernst Leitz Museum, Wetzlar, Germany.

  • 2022 Third Edition of Jakarta International Photo Festival.

  • 2022 Seventh Edition of Bucharest Photo Festival, Romania.

  • 2022 Mengabarkan Tenggelam, exhibition with Greenpeace Indonesia.

  • 2022 Land of the Sea exhibition at ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

  • 2021 Mengabarkan Kita Tenggelam, virtual exhibition with Greenpeace.

  • 2021 Solo Photo Festival, Indonesia.

  • 2020 Sixth Edition of Eyes on Main Street Festival, NC, United States.