Good day, hello! I’m Mischa Christen, a freelance photographer and I live in Lucerne, in the center of Switzerland, which is located 1 hour from Zurich, Basel and Bern and just 3 hours from Milano.

My recent work includes national and international commercial and editorial clients, such as

DIE ZEIT COOPZEITUNG FINANCIAL TIMES HOCHSCHULE LUZERN THE NEW YORK TIMES LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REPUBLIK MAGAZIN MARCO ODERMATT I ABROGANS AG NZZ AM SONNTAG MAGAZIN LE TEMPS ZEITLUPE MAGAZIN LUZERNER THEATER I FRANZ VON STROLCHEN SUCHTMAGAZIN CH MEDIA PRO JUVENTUTE M LE MAGAZIN DU MONDE LUZERNER KANTONALBANK I AGENTUR GUIDO VON DESCHWANDEN SONNTAGSZEITUNG MIGROS MAGAZIN SCHWEIZER FAMILIE NZZ FOLIO NULL41 KULTURMAGAZIN


Since the beginning of my engagement with photography, I have been interested in those subjects in which I depict the fragility of the everyday. The necessity to give an intimate insight into my own life is rooted in a biography that does not follow a regular path.

Student at the International Center for Photography, New York (2008). Participant of the Northern Lights Masterclass, Noorderlicht, Groningen NL (2010 - 2011). Admitted to the last masterclass of Arno Fischer at the Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin (2011).
Participant of photography workshops led by Erik Kessels, JH Engström, Antoine D'Agata, Michael Ackerman, Anders Petersen, Paolo Pellegrin and Andri Pol (2020 - 2005).

2005 press photographer for the daily newspaper Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 2006 Internship as press photographer and until 2013 staff photographer (40%) for the daily newspaper Basler Zeitung and freelance photographer. Since 2013 freelance photographer.

Education

2024 - 2025
KLASSE MAHLER ( Ute Mahler & Werner Mahler), Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin

2020
Workshop led by Erik Kessels, Milan
2019
Workshop led by JH Engström, Paris
2018
Photobook workshop, led by Calin & Yana Kruse - dienacht Publishig, Leipzig
2017
Photobook workshops, led by Mariela Sancari, Sonogno and Nicolas Polli & Salvatore Vitale, Milan
2013
Workshop led by Antoine D’Agata, Lugano
2012
Workshop led by Michael Ackerman, Naples
2011
Master student of Professor Arno Fischer, Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie (substitute Werner Mahler), Berlin
2010 - 2011
Northern Lights Masterclass, led by Marc Prüst and Lars Boering, Noorderlicht, Groningen NL
2010
Workshop led by Anders Petersen, Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin
2009
Workshop led by Paolo Pellegrin, Cesura, Piacenza ITA
2008
International Center of Photography, New York
2005
Workshop led by Andri Pol, MAZ, Luzern
2003
Grundlagen der Fotografie, Gestaltungsschule Farbmühle, Jean-Pierre Grüter, Luzern
2002 – 2003
Fashion Design, Mode Schule Zürich, Zürich CH
2001 - 2002
Figure and Nude Drawing, Schule für Gestaltung Farbmühle, Luzern CH
1989 - 1993
Typography, professional education, Luzern CH

Exhibitions (selected)

2024
Salong #1, collective exhibition, Studio Tabac, Stockholm
2023
Fotowerkschau Luzern, group exhibition, curated by Pearlie Frisch & Lorenz Hegi, Kornschütte Luzern > link
DER GREIF - Past & Present, Pinakothek der Moderne & ZIRKA, Munich > link
2021
Hommage an Arno Fischer, group exhibition, Gedenkausstellung seiner MeisterschülerInnen zum 10. Todestag, curated by Ute & Werner Mahler, Treptow Ateliers, Berlin
Looking Forward, exhibition with Stephan Wittmer and Patrick Blank, BelleVue - Ort für Fotografie, Basel
2020
HoHoHo - Digital Christmas 2020, group exhibition, Kali Gallery, Luzern
Good Waves, group exhibition, curated by Erik Kessels, MiCamera, Milan
_957 #100 Town-Ho, group exhibition, curated by Stephan Wittmer, Galerie 16b, Zürich; larada, Locarno; B74 Raum für Kunst, Luzern
2019
Doppelter Fokus. Die Portfolios, double exhibition with Patrick Blank, HSLU Design & Kunst, Emmenbrücke / Luzern
2018
Answers Without Words, group exhibition, Paragon Arts Gallery, Portland USA
2017
Jahresausstellung Zentralschweizer Kunstschaffen, group exhibition, with Patrick Blank, Kunstmuseum Luzern
Retrospektive des Alleinseins, double exhibition with Patrick Blank, curated by Michael Sutter, Kunsthalle Luzern (Kabinett), Luzern
2016
À fonds perdu, group exhibition, curated by Michael Sutter, Neubad Galerie, Luzern
Do You Remember My Name?, solo exhibition, Galerie-f5, Luzern,
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk (previous title Land), group exhibition, Fotowerkschau Luzern, Rathaus Kornschütte, Luzern 
2015
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk, solo exhibition, Zentral- und Hochschulbibliothek, Luzern
Swiss Photo Award, group exhibition, ewz selection, Zürich
2013
Siehste, jeht doch!, group exhibition, curated by Matthias Flügge, Meisterklasse Arno Fischer - letzter Jahrgang, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin
2012
Kolga Tbilisi Photo, group exhibition, Tbilisi GE
2011
Moment of Recognition, group exhibition, curated by Amy Arbus, ICP, International Center of Photography, New York
2009
Swiss Press Photo, group exhibition, Landesmuseum, Zürich
2008
Swiss Press Photo, group exhibition, Landesmuseum, Zürich
2006
Fujifilm EuroPress Awards, group exhibition, Bratislava Castle, Bratislava

Screenings

2019
Do You Remember My Name?, Viafarini Open Studio, Viafarini Archive, Milan
Do You Remember My Name?, vfg project competition, selected by Ute Mahler (Ostkreuz), Photobastei, Zürich  
2017
Street Projections, Kurfürstendamm Berlin, Photo Werk Berlin, EyeEm and Kommunale Galerie Berlin 
2016
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk (previous title Land), Photonic Moments, Month of Photography Festival of Contemporary Photography, Ljublijana
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk, Les Boutographies, La Panacée - Centre de Culture Contemporaine, Montpellier
2015
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk, Foto Istanbul Festival, selected by Anders Petersen, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul
2014
Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk, La Nuit des Images, BYOB, Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne
2011
Annual Meeting of the Finnish press photographers, Turku FIN

Awards, Grants, Mentions (selected)

2020
Shortlist - Gomma Photography Grant 2019
2019
Artists residency grant - Verein Städtepartnerschaft Luzern-Chicago for an Artist Residency in Chicago
Shortlist - Images Vevey Book Award, Vevey
2015
Shortlist - ewz selection Swiss Photo Award, fine art category, Zürich
2014
Travel scholarship PfeiferMobil (Motorhome) for the project Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk, Foundation Otto Pfeifer, Luzern
Finalist - European Month of Photography, Portfolio Review, Berlin
2013
Finalist - European Month of Photography, Portfolio Review, Bratislava
2009
3th Prize - Swiss Press Photo, category Art and Culture
2008
2nd Prize - Swiss Press Photo, category Everyday Life
2006
1th Prize - Fujifilm Europress Professional Awards, Swiss category Nightlife

Publications / Press (selected)

SuchtMagazin 1/2023, Stigmatisierung und Diskriminierung, 2023, Print

Basler Zeitung, Sehnsucht nach Amerika, May 11, 2021, Print
SuchtMagazin 2/2021, Mann und Sucht, 2021, Print
Museum im Bellpark, Kriens, Walkie Talkie #291, 14 Square Meters, January 3, 2021, Online

041 - Das Kulturmagazin 05/2020, Kunst und Kultur mit Corona, Daniela Ardiri & Mischa Christen, 2020, Print

SuchtMagazin 3/2018, I., 2018, Print
041 Das Kulturmagazin, Doppelter Fokus, monthly photo column with Patrick Blank, 03/2016 - 08/2018, Print

Der Greif, Guest-Room by Tiina Rauhala, May 17, 2017, Online

sfz Filialleiter Nr 6/2016, Burn Out, 2016, Print
Edito 1/2016, Photo in Arbeit, Fotografen berichten über laufende Projekte, Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk (previous title Land), 2016, Print
SuchtMagazin 6/2016, Jugendliche von Bern-Bethlehem, 2016, Print

YET, Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk (previous title Land), July 1, 2015, Online
NZZ, Foto-Tableau: Instead of a halo, an outline of chalk (previous title Land), June 16-20, 2015, Print

Photoklassik 3/2013, Unterwegs in den Strassen, 2013, Print
Ausstellungsbuch Siehste, Jeht Doch!, Meisterklasse Arno Fischer letzter Jahrgang, Galerie Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin, 2013, Print
Brennpunkt 3/2013 - Magazin für Fotografie, 2013, Print

Photo RAW Nr 16, The Voice of a Photographer, Flash And The City, 2011, Print
Foto8, Down and Out in Paris, July 11, 2011, Online
Emerge 011, Junger Fotojournalismus und Dokumentarfotografie, Stop, 2011, Print

Kinki Magazin Nr 25, Punch, 2010, Print

Lomography Magazine, Get a haircut! Or better yet, get them all cut!, May 4, 2008, Online

Artist Books / Zines

DAS NEUE LEBEN,1 I 2 & 2 I 2, 14.8 x 21 cm, 2 x 50 Ex. / nummeriert & signiert, 2023, je CHF 20.-, beide CHF 35.-
Doppelter Fokus. Die Portfolios, Patrick Blank und Mischa Christen, _957 Independent Art Magazine Nr 97, hrsg. von Stephan Wittmer, 2019, CHF 15.-
Die Unscheinbaren - a photographic research from 2018 - 2019 on white vans in Lucerne for the performance
Die Unscheinbaren by Franz von Strolchen, premiered at the Luzerner Theater in 2019, Self Published, 2019, CHF 15.-
Do You Remember My Name?, Dummy Version II, Leipzig, 2018

Input, Workshop, Lecture

Portrait Photography Input, Gymnasium Immensee, 2024
Workshop, Gymnasium St.Klemens, Ebikon/Luzern, 2018
Workshop, Gymnasium St.Klemens, Ebikon/Luzern, 2016
Lecture and presentation, annual meeting of the Finnish press photographers union, Turku FI, 2011