Darren Smith (b. 1984, Virginia, USA) is an Amsterdam-based portrait photographer whose work explores identity, belonging, and the raw power of self-expression. Known for his innovative "pop-up studio" approach, he creates intimate spaces that allow individuals to shed societal expectations and step into their most authentic, creative selves.At the core of his practice is the belief that everyone is an artist, and that true originality surfaces when we resist that pull and embrace the untamed chaos of our creative instincts. Raised in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains, where individuality was often constrained, Smith developed a profound appreciation for those community. This perspective fuels his work, which celebrates the courage and creativity of individuals who transform themselves and their surroundings, in spaces where the boundaries between fantasy and reality blur.

“I call this body of work Mayflies, after the tiny insects that, for one brief, but consequential moment, they hatch, meet, mate, and then they're gone. They embrace a lifetime within a single day. It seems an appropriate metaphor for the sort of people I was looking for.

Festivals and gatherings are catalysts for these encounters, places where transformation is embraced and individuality flourishes. In these fleeting interactions, I glimpse something rare: originality in its purest form. My work explores the meeting point of fantasy and reality, capturing moments of creativity, reinvention, and belonging.

I’m fascinated by radical self-expression—the artistry that emerges when people shed expectation and become who they truly are."

- Darren Smith