Cynthia Boll - Unnoticed

Fotomuseum Hilversum presents the exhibition 'Unnoticed: Picturing Stories' by internationally acclaimed photographer Cynthia Boll. This was her first museum presentation in the Netherlands.

The exhibition offers an intimate look at some of her most groundbreaking projects. Boll highlights social issues from a unique perspective, bringing underreported stories to light: from the effects of climate change to the status of women. Her work spans countries such as Afghanistan, Indonesia, and closer to home in the Netherlands and Belgium.

A highlight is the series 'Sinking Cities, Jakarta', recently acquired by the Nederlands Fotomuseum, which shows the impact of rising sea levels on life in Jakarta. The role of women in different cultures is also a central theme throughout her work.

Through her photography, Boll makes hidden stories visible, encouraging viewers to reflect on important and often overlooked topics.

About Cynthia Boll
Cynthia Boll (Leiden, 1972) aims to raise awareness of global challenges. She believes this is a meaningful way to improve the circumstances in which people often live. Boll stands out for her ability to translate complex subjects into personal and accessible images. Her strength lies in making the large comprehensible and turning complicated themes into human stories.

In September 2024, she won the prestigious international Canon Female Photojournalist Grant for her project Reshaping Home: Indonesia’s Capital Migration. This award recognizes her years of work as a documentary photographer telling stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. The Grant supports female photojournalists in continuing their projects.

Boll trained at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam as a lecturer in general economics and business administration. In 2006, she completed a part-time program at the Fotoacademie Amsterdam. Her independent work has been exhibited and published internationally, including at the World Expo in Dubai, in National Geographic Magazine, and in media worldwide. In May 2025, she will present a traveling multi-city exhibition on Jakarta, Venice, and Gouda at the Architecture Biennale in Venice, in collaboration with journalist Stephanie Bakker.

Her work has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Zilveren Camera (2010, 2018) and the Canon Female Photojournalist Grant (2024), and has been widely exhibited internationally.