Born into an Austrian-German family, Princess Sophie von Hanau grew up with a distinctly international perspective. A citizen of the world and fluent in four languages, she attended school in Spain and frequently travelled to the United States to visit family.

 

Her fascination with human behaviour first led her to psychology. While pursuing her BA, she studied at the University of Miami, Webster University Vienna and C.I.S. in Madrid, before graduating from Regent College London in 2004.

 

She soon began merging her understanding of psychology with her passion for photography, using the camera to capture the moments she wanted to observe and understand. She later studied photography at London’s School of Black and White Photography.

 

In 2006, Sophie held her first exhibition at Fendi on Sloane Street, London. She soon moved beyond traditional photography, developing her signature style of oversized, contemporary and sometimes abstract works. Through overexposure and the intentional blending of backgrounds, she focuses the viewer on what she considers the essence of each subject.

 

Her lifelong travels to remote parts of the world sparked a fascination with cultures and traditions that leave lasting impressions. For several years, she has taken an almost anthropological approach to documenting fading traditions, preserving moments of culture, identity and human connection through her work.

 

Sophie is now an established artist, with solo exhibitions and work presented at international contemporary art fairs including SCOPE Miami Beach and Photo::Vienna at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), Vienna. Her work forms part of several important collections and continues to gain recognition internationally.

 

Her photography also has a humanitarian purpose. Sophie collaborated with UNICEF in South Sudan, documenting the effects of the country’s four-year civil war on its people. She continues to travel to Tanzania, where the Sophie von Hanau Foundation supports ongoing projects.

 

A generous portion of her sales proceeds is donated to these initiatives, supporting children and families she has met through her travels.

 

“I go where my heart sends me, and I help where I can.”