Máté Bartha (1987), based in Budapest, HUNGARY
is a photographer and documentary movie director.
is a photographer and documentary movie director.
+36 30 525 63 27
barthamate@gmail.com
barthamate@gmail.com
Máté Bartha (1987) is a Budapest-based visual artist working in the fields of of photography and documentary film. His practice is driven by a mission to reenchant the world through world-building, impersonation and constructing personal and collective mythologies. His work proposes new narratives by blending symbolic and subjective interpretations of his usual field of observation, the metropolis, treating urban spaces as arenas for imaginative transformation. Bartha’s works have been published and exhibited widely, and often combine staged and documentary imagery, archival material, and speculative narrative forms.
Bartha holds Master's degrees in Photography (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, 2011) and Documentary Filmmaking (University of Theatre and Film Arts, 2016), and is currently a doctoral student at MOME. His first photobook, Common Nature (2014), explored the ambivalence of urban space as a mirror of the unconscious. Kontakt (2018), a coming-of-age portrait of Hungarian military youth camps, was awarded the Louis Roederer Discovery Award at the Rencontres d’Arles (2019). His recent project Anima Mundi, a fictional urban encyclopedia of cosmic order, received the Main Jury Prize at Les Boutographies, Montpellier (2024). His ongoing work, The Dice Man, is a chance-based photographic pilgrimage through grief, memory, and city space.
Represented by TOBE Gallery
1088 Budapest, Bródy Sándor u. 36. HUNGARY
+36 20 4840490
info@tobegallery.hu
Represented by TOBE Gallery
1088 Budapest, Bródy Sándor u. 36. HUNGARY
+36 20 4840490
info@tobegallery.hu
Studies
2023- DLA studies, Moholy Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), Budapest
2016-2018 Unversity of Drama and Film (SZFE) Budapest, directing documentaries MA
2006-2011 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), Budapest, photography MA
Memberships
2020 - MADOKE
2019 - Futures Photography Talent
2013 - Studio of Young Artists' Association (FKSE), Hungary
Awards, scholarships
2025 - Shortlisted for Lensculture New Visions award
2025 - Kontakt shortlisted for FE+SK Book Award
2025 - Shortlisted for Hungarian Book Design Award
2024 - Les Boutographies Montpellier - Jury Prize: Anima Mundi
2024 - PHMuseum Grant - Main Prize, Honourable Mention: Anima Mundi
2023 - Budapest Fotográfiai Ösztöndíj
2022 - Artis-in-residence at the Cité Des Arts, Paris, by Budapest Gallery
2022 - "H" The Notion of Humanity, Kaunas Gallery, invited participant
2022 - Art Photo Mode - One Year Programme, scholarship
2020 - 2022 József Pécsi, Hungarian National Photography Scholarship
2019 - Diploma for Promising Debut with DOWNSTREAM at 27th MINSK IFF LISTAPAD
2019 - Best Student and First film at VERZIÓ 16 with DOWNSTREAM
2019 - Fotofestiwal Open Call finalist with KONTAKT
2019 - Louis Roederer Discovery Award, Rencontres D'Arles with KONTAKT
2019 - PHMuseum 2019 Photography Grant Honorable Mention with KONTAKT
2018 - Capa Grand Prize with KONTAKT
2018 - "Bajnok" / "Champion" - Special mention / Shorts / BIDF 2018, Hungary
2017 - Capa Photography Fellowship awardee, Capa Center, Hungary
2014 - Fieldwork in New York, FFS, Hungarian Initiatives Foundation
2014 - Participant of PLAT(T)FORM 2014, Winterthur, Switzerland
2013-2014 - József Pécsi, Hungarian National Photography Scholarship
2013 - Fotóporta portfolio review, 3rd place
2012 - Fotóporta portfolio review, special mention
2012 - Artist in resicence in Ulm, Germany, Visual Kontakt
Photobooks
2023- DLA studies, Moholy Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), Budapest
2016-2018 Unversity of Drama and Film (SZFE) Budapest, directing documentaries MA
2006-2011 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME), Budapest, photography MA
Memberships
2020 - MADOKE
2019 - Futures Photography Talent
2013 - Studio of Young Artists' Association (FKSE), Hungary
Awards, scholarships
2025 - Shortlisted for Lensculture New Visions award
2025 - Kontakt shortlisted for FE+SK Book Award
2025 - Shortlisted for Hungarian Book Design Award
2024 - Les Boutographies Montpellier - Jury Prize: Anima Mundi
2024 - PHMuseum Grant - Main Prize, Honourable Mention: Anima Mundi
2023 - Budapest Fotográfiai Ösztöndíj
2022 - Artis-in-residence at the Cité Des Arts, Paris, by Budapest Gallery
2022 - "H" The Notion of Humanity, Kaunas Gallery, invited participant
2022 - Art Photo Mode - One Year Programme, scholarship
2020 - 2022 József Pécsi, Hungarian National Photography Scholarship
2019 - Diploma for Promising Debut with DOWNSTREAM at 27th MINSK IFF LISTAPAD
2019 - Best Student and First film at VERZIÓ 16 with DOWNSTREAM
2019 - Fotofestiwal Open Call finalist with KONTAKT
2019 - Louis Roederer Discovery Award, Rencontres D'Arles with KONTAKT
2019 - PHMuseum 2019 Photography Grant Honorable Mention with KONTAKT
2018 - Capa Grand Prize with KONTAKT
2018 - "Bajnok" / "Champion" - Special mention / Shorts / BIDF 2018, Hungary
2017 - Capa Photography Fellowship awardee, Capa Center, Hungary
2014 - Fieldwork in New York, FFS, Hungarian Initiatives Foundation
2014 - Participant of PLAT(T)FORM 2014, Winterthur, Switzerland
2013-2014 - József Pécsi, Hungarian National Photography Scholarship
2013 - Fotóporta portfolio review, 3rd place
2012 - Fotóporta portfolio review, special mention
2012 - Artist in resicence in Ulm, Germany, Visual Kontakt
Photobooks
2024 - Anima Mundi (The Eriskay Connection)
2024 - The Secret Life of Air Conditioning Units (Hurrikan Press)
2014 - Common Nature (Self-Published)
2024 - The Secret Life of Air Conditioning Units (Hurrikan Press)
2014 - Common Nature (Self-Published)
Filmography
2024 - Wild Water Country - documentary ‘27 (co-directed with Zsófia Szonja Illés)
2023 - OCD: Ordinary Catastrophic Day - dance movie (‘7)
2022 - The Disposable Man - dance movie ('3)
2022 - Apophenia - experimental short film ('3)
2022 - Apfelbaum - book movie ('14)
2022 - Faces of Margit Slachta - online mini docu-series (6 x '4)
2022 - Uglimán - experimental film ('45)
2022 - Seekers - short documentary ('32)
2020 - Danube, Against the Flow - docu-series for TV (8 x '48)
2019 - Downstream - short documentary (36')
2017 - Champion - short documentary (19')
2017 - Closer to communities - documentary ('33)
2024 - Wild Water Country - documentary ‘27 (co-directed with Zsófia Szonja Illés)
2023 - OCD: Ordinary Catastrophic Day - dance movie (‘7)
2022 - The Disposable Man - dance movie ('3)
2022 - Apophenia - experimental short film ('3)
2022 - Apfelbaum - book movie ('14)
2022 - Faces of Margit Slachta - online mini docu-series (6 x '4)
2022 - Uglimán - experimental film ('45)
2022 - Seekers - short documentary ('32)
2020 - Danube, Against the Flow - docu-series for TV (8 x '48)
2019 - Downstream - short documentary (36')
2017 - Champion - short documentary (19')
2017 - Closer to communities - documentary ('33)
Exhibitions
2025
- The Dice Man / Kockavető, solo exhibition in 8F Gallery (Capa Center), Budapest
2024
- Heile Welt, group exhibition at Schaumbad - Freies Atelierhaus Graz, curator: Martin Baasch
- Anima Mundi in group exhibition: Les Boutographies, Montpellier
- The Dice Man / Kockavető, solo exhibition in 8F Gallery (Capa Center), Budapest
2024
- Heile Welt, group exhibition at Schaumbad - Freies Atelierhaus Graz, curator: Martin Baasch
- Anima Mundi in group exhibition: Les Boutographies, Montpellier
2023
- Anima Mundi solo exhibition, International Meetings of Photography, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Balabanov House
- Anima Mundi solo exhibition, Liszt Institute of Sofia, Bulgaria
- Anima Mundi - screened at Croiserie, Arles, France
- Anima Mundi - screened at Papeteries Etienne, Arles, France
- Like You, Like Me - group exhibition, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest
2022
- Anima Mundi at Unseen Amsterdam. TOBE Gallery
- Anima Mundi - solo exhibition, TOBE Gallery, Budapest
- Group exhibition at CineEast Film Festival, Luxembourg
2021
- "Kontakt" at Unseen Amsterdam, TOBE Gallery
- "CURE" Group exhibition at Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest
- Group exbition at "Ideologies", RAY Photography Triennale, Frankfurt, Germany
- Anima Mundi solo exhibition, International Meetings of Photography, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Balabanov House
- Anima Mundi solo exhibition, Liszt Institute of Sofia, Bulgaria
- Anima Mundi - screened at Croiserie, Arles, France
- Anima Mundi - screened at Papeteries Etienne, Arles, France
- Like You, Like Me - group exhibition, Hungarian House of Photography, Budapest
2022
- Anima Mundi at Unseen Amsterdam. TOBE Gallery
- Anima Mundi - solo exhibition, TOBE Gallery, Budapest
- Group exhibition at CineEast Film Festival, Luxembourg
2021
- "Kontakt" at Unseen Amsterdam, TOBE Gallery
- "CURE" Group exhibition at Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest
- Group exbition at "Ideologies", RAY Photography Triennale, Frankfurt, Germany
2020
- Solo exhibition at TOBE Gallery, Budapest
- Group exhibition at FOTOFESTIWAL, Lódz, Poland
- Solo exhibition at TOBE Gallery, Budapest
- Group exhibition at FOTOFESTIWAL, Lódz, Poland
2019
- "Kontakt" at Paris Photo, TOBE Gallery
- Group exhibition at JIMEI X ARLES 2019, Jimei, China
- "Louis Roederer Discovery Award" exhibition of the shortlisted artists, Rencontres D'Arles, 2019
- "Light" Group exhibition, TOBE Gallery, Budapest
2018
- Thirtythree, Group exhibition, Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest
- Hello from the other side, Group Exhibition, Valyo kikötő / Capa kikötő
- City vs Nature, Group exhibition, D17 Gallery, Budapest
2016
- "Pécsi 25" Group exhibition, Capa Contemporary Photography Center
- "Merging Realities" Szatyor Art Space, Budapest, Hungary
- "Swing", group exhibition, Platán Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
- "Kontakt" at Paris Photo, TOBE Gallery
- Group exhibition at JIMEI X ARLES 2019, Jimei, China
- "Louis Roederer Discovery Award" exhibition of the shortlisted artists, Rencontres D'Arles, 2019
- "Light" Group exhibition, TOBE Gallery, Budapest
2018
- Thirtythree, Group exhibition, Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest
- Hello from the other side, Group Exhibition, Valyo kikötő / Capa kikötő
- City vs Nature, Group exhibition, D17 Gallery, Budapest
2016
- "Pécsi 25" Group exhibition, Capa Contemporary Photography Center
- "Merging Realities" Szatyor Art Space, Budapest, Hungary
- "Swing", group exhibition, Platán Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2015
- "Disappearing Rural Villages", multimedia exhibition, Telep Gallery, Off Biennale, Budapest, Hungary
- "Budapest Balaton", group exhibition, Hungarian Institute of Istambul, Turkey
- "Disappearing Rural Villages", multimedia exhibition, Telep Gallery, Off Biennale, Budapest, Hungary
- "Budapest Balaton", group exhibition, Hungarian Institute of Istambul, Turkey
2014
- "Home Away", Hungarians in New York, group exhibition, Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest, Hungary
- "Kiváló a hangulat" group exhibition, Casati Art Corner, Budapest, Hungary
- "derkó.pécsi.2014" group exhibition, Kunsthalle, Budapest, Hungary
- "Enter/ing", group exhibition, FKSE Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
- "Home Away", Hungarians in New York, group exhibition, Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Budapest, Hungary
- "Kiváló a hangulat" group exhibition, Casati Art Corner, Budapest, Hungary
- "derkó.pécsi.2014" group exhibition, Kunsthalle, Budapest, Hungary
- "Enter/ing", group exhibition, FKSE Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2013
- "Indíték Tématéka" group exhibition, Labor, Budapest, Hungary
- "Indíték Tématéka" group exhibition, Labor, Budapest, Hungary
2012
- "680 km", Kunstraum Visual Kontakt, Ulm, Germany
- "Relevant" group exhibition, Roham bár, Budapest, Hungary
- "680 km", Kunstraum Visual Kontakt, Ulm, Germany
- "Relevant" group exhibition, Roham bár, Budapest, Hungary
2011
- "FormElles" group exhibition, Hungarian Institute of Paris, France
- "Keresetlen Csúf" group exhibition, University of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary
- "The I Country" group exhibition, Demo Gallery, Budapest
- "FormElles" group exhibition, Hungarian Institute of Paris, France
- "Keresetlen Csúf" group exhibition, University of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary
- "The I Country" group exhibition, Demo Gallery, Budapest
2009
- "Contemplate" Lumen Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
- Photobiennale of Dunaújváros, Hungary
- "Image Error", group exhibition, Artbázis, Budapest, Hungary
- "The Rain Before It Falls" group exhibition, Karton Gallery, Budapest
- "Metropolis" group exhibition, Nessim Gallery, Budapest
- "Contemplate" Lumen Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
- Photobiennale of Dunaújváros, Hungary
- "Image Error", group exhibition, Artbázis, Budapest, Hungary
- "The Rain Before It Falls" group exhibition, Karton Gallery, Budapest
- "Metropolis" group exhibition, Nessim Gallery, Budapest