1 november – 30 november 2025
Being true to yourself, loving openly, and living freely without fear — these are universal needs. Yet for many, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community, such freedom remains out of reach. In numerous parts of the world, these fundamental human rights remain under threat — or are actively being rolled back and restricted. Queer individuals continue to face discrimination, hostility, and even danger, sometimes from their own governments, families, or communities. Under such circumstances, forging your own identity – and fighting for your rights – takes immense courage and resilience.
BredaPhoto and Pride Photo have come together to honour the powerful life stories of queer individuals who have chosen their own paths — often against resistance, and for some only later in life when legislation provided necessary protection. Through five compelling photo projects by international artists, new work by emerging photography students, and a striking outdoor exhibition, we aim to inspire and connect with a broad audience — queer individuals and allies alike — and to celebrate the richness of our shared diversity.
Five remarkable photo projects
I Remember Everything is a long-term photography project spanning the 35-year friendship between Danny Abood and photographer Julie Sundberg. Julie’s photographs capture Danny at powerful and intimate moments throughout his life: as a beautiful young man, in drag, on drugs, in his journey with a positive HIV diagnosis, and finally on his deathbed after his diagnosis with cancer — as well as all the moments in between.
When Andrés Gregorio Pérez revisited their family photo albums, they realized that their true self was nowhere to be seen. Pérez set out to change that. Dead Family is an artistic exploration of the role of the family archive, created in collaboration with various individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community as an act of self-reclamation.
With Invisible Border, Chiara Fabbro pays tribute to Dimitri, who walks through her hometown on the Greek island of Lesbos with head held high, wearing a stunning red dress. Her photographs depict the happy ending of a lifelong struggle against conservative parents, societal stigmatization, and inner battles — finally able to live as her true self, as a woman.
Since its founding in 1958, NASA actively rejected future employees and astronauts based on their perceived sexuality and gender identity. While NASA launched a dedicated LGBTQIA+ program in 2016, none of the approximately 600 astronauts who have traveled to space have openly identified as queer. In The Gay Space Agency, Mackenzie Calle humorously critiques the ongoing exclusion of queer astronauts.
For Mit Euren Spuren — which translates to “with your traces” — a collective of six photographers collaborated with eight queer senior citizens to share their stories. Due to anti-gay legislation and the fear of societal stigma and discrimination, many hid their sexuality and gender identity for most of their lives and never had the opportunity to share their experiences. This project shines a spotlight on their lived experiences and the lessons we must gain from them.
Interdisciplinary Mini Festival
The last listed project, Mit Euren Spuren, will receive a special continuation for BredaPhoto X Pride Photo: Francesco Giordano, a member of the collective, will collaborate with five photography students to highlight the lives of five queer residents of Breda. The outcomes of this project will be exhibited alongside the other works at Clublokaal and in the project space of the Chassé Theater. In addition, the Pride Photo 2025 outdoor exhibition will be on display in the city center of Breda during the same period. BredaPhoto is also teaming up with the literary festival Tilt, including a letter-writing project inspired by the images featured in the exhibitions. Together, these initiatives form an interdisciplinary mini festival — bringing photography, literature, and live performances into the heart of the city — to celebrate queer life in all its diversity.
In-Depth Program and Special Activities
As BredaPhoto visitors have come to expect, we offer an extensive in-depth program alongside this project. In collaboration with Pride Photo, Tilt, and various cultural partners in the city, we are organizing film screenings, artist talks, workshops, guided tours, and a special edition of the care home project De Koffer van Joost (“Joost’s Suitcase”). There will also be a dedicated educational program for secondary schools and vocational education. For more details, please visit the BredaPhoto website. More information about all events will follow in the weeks leading up to the opening.