Petra Droogsma (1973) is a Dutch artist based in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). She graduated from the Amsterdam Academy for the Arts (AHK) at the School for Mime, as a director and performer. Later she got her physical theatre teacher’s degree. She had a career in physical and location theatre working mainly as a director. Interested in the visual and physical aspect of creating she found over time photography and film a more fitting form. Petra has created portraits internationally on her travels to places such as New York, Lausanne, London, Berlin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Barcelona and Paris. She has been building a body of photography work for the past 13 years.
Projects (selection)
2023 Collaboration Atelier Hop
2022 Art Brut Biennale , Hengelo
2021 ‘Portraits’ Book de Luxe
2020 ‘Under the green and crooked grass’ video and composition
2020 ‘Young in the park’ photo series
2019 “Brother and sister” photo series
2018 ‘88,5 miles up north’ photo book, New York-Jubbega
2017 ‘I wonder’ photo book, women empowerment project for the City of Amsterdam
2016 ‘Weekendje Java’ group show, Amsterdam
2015 ‘The making of tomorrow’, filming and photography, Amsterdam
2014 ‘Islands’ film/photography/butoh project with Femke Kramer, Amsterdam
2011-2012 ‘ Thiscityismybackdrop’ , 8 shorts for SUBBACULTCHA, video project, Amsterdam
2011 ‘Balls’ , video, directing, Amsterdam
2011 “The God Thing’ videographer /photography, London
2010 ‘First we take Manhattan’ Rietveld Academy/Dogtime group exhibition, Amsterdam
2009 ‘Amerika, who will make things go around?’ solo exhibition icw writer Nada Holland, at Cut the Crap, Amsterdam
2008-2013 ‘Women in Recovery’ photo series
2007 Voerman & Vermeulen, performance teacher at Sandberg Instituut, Amsterdam
2006 ‘Sellars Project Space’, group exhibition, Denver USA
2005 ‘Not me’ physical theater, directing, Amsterdam
2004 ‘Waves’ , physical theater , teaching/ directing, Amsterdam
2004 ‘A pitchfork Disney’ at Zeenzucht, theater, performing, touring theaters Netherlands
2002-2005 Jeugdtheaterschool, teacher at the theaterschool for youth
2003 ‘Cry Baby’ physical theater, teaching/directing, Leiden
2000 ‘Fear (3+1)’ physical theater, directing, Amsterdam
1999 ‘Public Places’ International theater festival, teaching/ directing, Amsterdam
1998 ‘Little Sweety Doll’ location theater, performing and directing, Amsterdam
1997 “Go Underground’ location theater, performing and directing, Amsterdam
1997 ‘ Eye see you’ art film, performing, Amsterdam
1996 ‘Johnny’ film by Dylan de Jong, performing
1995 ‘The secret life of mothers’ performing, Amsterdam
1993 “Odillon Redon’ , performing at van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
1990 ‘Noodweer’ at Spleen, dancer/performer, tour the Netherlands and Belgium
Publications
Girlgaze
TeenVOGUE
Het Parool
Subbacultcha
Yoga Magazine
Tree Femme Collective
wombyin.com
Education/ Study
Amsterdam Academy for the Arts / Mime school AHK
Master class Charlotte Dumas
B&W Photography at ACF
Grants
Amsterdamse fonds voor de Kunsten
Mama Cash
VSB Fonds
Awards
Rabobank Cultuurprijs