Ardelle Schneider is a German photographer and visual artist based in Düsseldorf. In 2020, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Communication Design at the Peter Behrens School of Arts in Düsseldorf. In 2023 she received her Master's degree in Photography Studies and Practice at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. Her work operates at the intersection of art, photography and narrative, intimately exploring themes of identity, social relationships and the complex dynamics between people and their environment.
Schneider's artistic practice is characterized by the poetic and tactile qualities of analog photography. She prefers to use natural light sources to create intimate and atmospheric compositions that immerse the viewer in multi-layered, introspective worlds. Her photo series “Butterflies and Caterpillars” was shortlisted for the Kassel Dummy Award in 2020 and published by the book publisher Kettler in 2022.
With her project “Family Stories”, she built on this sensitive visual language and was awarded the bronze medal in the graduate category of the German Photo Book Award in the fall of 2023/24. Schneider's work moves between documentary and artistic photography, creating visual narratives that are both contemplative and haunting.
Ardelle Schneider is open to collaborations across photography, particularly in fashion, dance, and cultural projects. Her work ranges from portrait commissions to editorial series and publications, combining a fine art sensibility with commercial practice.
If you have a project in mind — whether it's campaign work, editorial content, or something more experimental — she would be happy to hear from you. She is based in Düsseldorf and available for projects throughout Germany and internationally.
You can also create a moodboard from her photographs and share it with her via link. It's a helpful way to show which images align with your vision and to start the conversation with a clearer sense of direction.
Feel free to reach out to discuss ideas, availability, or to see more of her work.
Awards, Prizes
Nominated for Kassel Dummy Award, Kassel, 2020
Bronze Medal in the Graduate Category of the German Photo Book Award, Regensburg, 2023/24
Interviews
British Journal of Photography
Selected Exhibitions
Photo Plus, Alte Kämmerei, Düsseldorf, 2018
Stop Over, Museum Folkwang, Essen, 2021/22
Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt am Main, 2023
Photography Masters, Museum Folkwang, Essen, 2024
Street Photography, Bilker Bunker, Düsseldorf, 2025
Publications
Butterflies and Caterpillars, Verlag Kettler, 2022
Family Stories, 2023