Marcin Piekałkiewicz is a research-based photographer living and working in the Netherlands. Growing up in Poland during the 1990s economic transition, he witnessed firsthand the social consequences of neoliberal reforms, sparking a lifelong interest in how abstract capitalist systems manifest in material, lived realities.

His artistic practice unpacks the complex structures of contemporary capitalism, examining how economic power shapes landscapes, built environments, and social conditions. His recent project, Built on Sand, was published as a monograph by The Eriskay Connection (2026) and exhibited internationally at venues including Copeland Gallery (London), IFAC Athina (Athens), and institutions across Poland. The project has been featured in The New York Times and contributed to public discussion through coverage in national media. Research related to Built on Sand has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Photographies and Sophia Journal.

Before combining his photographic practice with his socio-economic research, Piekałkiewicz developed an extensive background in street photography, exhibiting internationally at venues such as the Los Angeles Center of Photography, the London Street Photography Festival, and the Urban Photo Awards in Trieste, Italy. His work was featured in Street Photography Magazine, Eyeshot Magazine, and the group photobook Short Street Stories (dotART, 2019). His early documentary projects – including a photo reportage on working life in Cuba and a series on globalization – were solo-exhibited across Italy and featured by the Italian Associated Press (2016).

Piekałkiewicz’s work is deeply informed by his academic background. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Siena and an MA in Documentary Photography from the University of South Wales. He has published extensive research on well-being in journals including PLOS One, the Journal of Happiness Studies, and The Economic and Labour Relations Review. His interdisciplinary background allows him to critically connect economic theory with lived human experience, challenging dominant narratives of progress within contemporary capitalism.