Harmen Meinsma is a Dutch fine art photographer celebrated for his dedication to showcasing individuality and nonconformity. Growing up in a small village in Friesland, where he lived with his grandmother, Meinsma discovered photography as a teenager. The medium allowed him to explore unconventional beauty, creating a space for himself and his friends in the world.

Meinsma remains deeply inspired by those who challenge conventional norms. His work captures individuals whose expressions of identity are not merely preferences but reflect a deeper, more courageous authenticity. This emphasis on the unique, the flamboyant, and the unconventional has become a defining characteristic of his visual language. In his own words, “In my work, I direct the spotlight to misfits and the birds of paradise in this world and I turn them into icons.”

After completing his BA (Hons) in fine art photography at the Willem de Kooning Academy in 2017, Harmen Meinsma’s work gained recognition through international exhibitions. Notable showcases include Photoville (New York, USA) and Kunsthal Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands). His recent group exhibitions are the 2024–2025 Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize (National Portrait Gallery, London, UK) and the 2024 Head On Portrait Award (Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Sydney, Australia).

In addition to his exhibitions, Meinsma’s photography has been published in notable outlets such as NRC Magazine, FD Persoonlijk, Vogue Italia, and Volkskrant Magazine. Currently based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Harmen Meinsma continues to use his artistry to celebrate and elevate diversity, individuality, and the beauty of being unapologetically oneself.