I was born near Paris in 1963 to a disabled father and a mother who was director of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. I grew up surrounded by physically disabled people.

At the age of 9, I discovered photography.

I began my career as a photographer in Paris in 1986, working with Vu agency, then Editing and Sipa. At the age of 24, I was a regular freelancer for the Parisian press such as Libération, among many others.

Hurt as a child by the early death of my disabled father, as if I was in search of remission, I devoted my work entirely to young people in Europe and Central Asia.

This work is divided between a series entitled Face moi, which examines the representation of young people, mainly in the former USSR, Germany and China.          

www.ericvazzoler.com 

and photo workshops for young people: prevention (suburbs, prisons), inclusion (all disabilities) and cooperation (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine), in conflict zones (war-torn Donbass), with refugees in Germany...                                                                           

www.arguments.photo

Regularly I freelance for the major German press (Der Spiegel, Stern...).

In four languages, I run photographic workshops in various contexts, also in Arles, and most recently in Weimar for 11 young visually impaired young people (May 2025).

I have had around thirty solo exhibitions in nine countries in Europe and Central Asia.

The last took place at gallery La Pierre Large in Strasbourg (France) in June 2024.

It has benefited from numerous artists residencies: Berlin (1990 and 1995), Russia (1993, 2010 and 2018), Ukraine (1998 and 2012), Lithuania (1997), Kazakhstan (2000 and 2019), Poland (2005)…

As a portrait photographer, I have been awarded with:

2000 Jeune Talent FNAC 

2006 Nominated for the Prix Nièpce 

2008 Grand Prix at the Fotofestiwal in Łódź (PL) 

2023 Awarded the Weimar Triangle Prize

With the invasion of Ukraine, I took video documentary more seriously: first collaboration with Arte "Vlad from Donbass 5' - 2023) and various ongoing projects in that country.

In addition to my native French, I am fluent in German, Russian and English + HSK2 Chinese.

My recent projects have revolved around sportswomen (‘Mes héroïnes’, a project awarded the Olympiade Culturelle Paris 2024 Label) and young people caught up in the war in Ukraine since 2014 (see dedicated page on the site).

I live in Strasbourg and has three sons with my German wife.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS  (selection)

02/97    City Museum, Tübingen DE

09/97    Fuji Fotogalerija, Kaunas LV

11/97    Gallery Academija, Vilnius LV

03/98    Galerie 4, Cheb CZ

10/99    Gallery Irena, Kiev UA 

11/99    European Capital of Culture, Weimar DE

12/99    Gallery of Union of photographers, Zaporizhzhia UA

04/00    Prison for Juveniles, Wiesbaden DE

06/00    Gallery Art Boreï, Saint-Pétersbourg RU

05/01    Decht Art Center Karaganda KZ

09/02    Photoszene, Cologne DE

12/02    Maison de France Berlin DE

05/03    Manufacture Nancy FR

07/06    One World House, Magdeburg DE

11/07   Gallery of Iris Center (School for photography) Paris FR

05/08    Fotofestiwal, Lodz PL (Face moi won the Grand Prix)

04/10   Gallery of Theater Le Maillon, Strasbourg FR

11/12    Be young and shut up! Galerie Soviart, Kiev UA

03/13    L'Escarpe Campus of University Strasbourg FR

04/13    Art Center Kvartira Dnipropetrovk (Dnipro) UA

05/16    Bookstore Kléber, Strasbourg FR

07/18    French Cultural Center Moscou RU

09/18    House of Journalits Voronezh RU

03/20    National Gallery Astana KZ

05/20    Eco Museum Karaganda KZ

07/21    Gallery of Cri des Lumières Lunéville FR

06/24    Gallery La Pierre Large Strasbourg FR

07/24    Gallery in Moritzhof Magdeburg DE

09/24    Nikon Plaza Paris FR