Pie Aerts (born 1985) is a Dutch photographer based in Haarlem. His work examines the often melancholic relationship between people and place. Through research-led projects, he questions cultural stereotypes and explores tradition, human connection, and our growing distance from the natural environment. His photography favours nuanced personal stories, consistently placing hope over despair and coexistence over conflict.
He is also the founder of Prints for Wildlife, a fundraising platform that has brought together more than 375 photographers and raised $2.5 million for conservation since 2020.
His first monograph, Coirón (GOST Books, 2026), is the result of six years photographing puesteros, aging gauchos who live and work alone for months on vast private ranches in the Chilean region of Magallanes. Its 59 photographs follow their daily labour, their silence, and a way of life that fewer young people choose to continue. The book also includes a poem by Iván Rojel Figueroa and an essay by Alberto Harambour.
