Marco Frauchiger (born 1976) is a photographer and artist based in Bern, where he has been living and working for the past 23 years. He was born in Langnau in the Emmental region and grew up in Grosshöchstetten, where he attended school and completed vocational training as a tinsmith, plumbing installer, and plumbing draftsman. Since 2009, he has been working as an independent artist, realising his own projects in the fields of art and documentary photography. He earns his living through his artistic practice as well as commissioned work, particularly in architectural photography.

Initially self-taught, Frauchiger acquired the craft of photography on his own. From 2004 to 2005, he was part of a group of self-taught photographers (GaF), where he was able to engage in an intensive exchange with peers and further develop his skills. In 2013, a grant enabled him to spend an extended period in Laos, where he worked on a personal series and collaborated with various NGOs. In 2014, he completed a one-year masterclass in Vienna — a mentorship programme that allowed for a focused dialogue with lecturers and fellow students, significantly deepening his artistic practice. Starting in 2014, he also took part in various advanced workshops to further expand his photographic knowledge.

In 2018, he continued his studies in the Master’s programme in Contemporary Art Practice (CAP) at the Bern University of the Arts, graduating with highest honours in June 2020. Since then, his works have been regularly exhibited both in Switzerland and abroad. In 2022, he was awarded the Prix Photoforum for his work how to dismantle a bomb.

Marco Frauchiger is a member of several professional associations and collectives, including NEAR (the Swiss Association for Contemporary Photography), Pool Collective, Visarte Bern, and he also serves on the board of Visarte Ateliers Bern. He is currently enrolled in the CAS programme Theory and History of Photography at the University of Zurich.

2025  Journées photographiques de Biel/Bienne, Juraplatz und Rue Basse (upcoming)
2024  Swiss Photo Month, Prozess Raum Bern
2024  Pool Collective Summer Show, The Great Adam Brody, Zürich
2023  cerco Kollektiv, Cantonale Berne Jura 2023/24, Kunsthaus Pasquart Bienne, office hours
2023  BelleVue, Ort für Fotografie, Basel, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2023 Ausstellungsraum Klingental Basel
2022 Prix Photoforum 2022, Photoforum, Biel/Bienne, "how to dismantle a bomb" (Bringing light into Dark)
2022 Kunstraum Dreiviertel, Bern, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2021 Cantonale Berne Jura 2021/22, Kunsthaus Langenthal, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2021 Noorderlicht International Photography Festival, Groningen, Niederlande, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2021 Prozess Kulturraum, Bern, "It reminds me of a place I’ve never been to"
2021 ARFF International Film Festival, screening "how to dismantle a bomb"
2020 Whiteout, Kunstmuseum Thun, Cantonale Berne Jura 2020, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2020 Common Ground, Kunsthaus Pasquart Biel, Diploma exhibition MA CAP, "how to dismantle a bomb"
2019 hier einschlagen/ brisez la vitre/ smash glas here, annual exhibition MA CAP HKB Bern, „Se mettre a nu“
2019 Stundenbuch V.I.B, Lehrerzimmer Bern, Lecture Performance, „Se mettre a nu“
2019 Short Story Dispenser, installation and Text, Zurich HB Main Station, „Der Mann der reist“
2019 Festival of Cultures, Heiliggeistkirche Bern, „Churches“
2018 Tête-à-tête, BFF Bern, „Ich und das Andere“
2018 Strategies Against the Map, A Ilha Gallery, Lisbon
2017 VFG_Sicht, Photobastei Zurich, „Where the french people are“
2016 Nuit des Images, Musée d'Elysée Lausanne, „Bär“
2015 Fotolabor Kreta, Pop-Up Photo Studio, Vienna Design Week, Vienna, Austria
2015 Rencontres Arles, Papeteries Étienne, Arles, France, „Bär“
2015 AnzenbergerMasterclass, Alte Brotfabrik, Vienna, Austria, „Bär“
2015 Camera Obscura, Gallerie Schwarzwaldallee, Basel
2015 Haus der elektronischen Künste, Museumsnacht, Basel, „Portraits“
2014 Camera Obscura in the Photobastei, Zurich, „Jura“
2014 Group exhibition Photobastei, Zurich, „Mars“
2013 Cantonale Berne Jura 2013, Stadtgalerie Bern
2013 Berne Photo Prize 2013, Kornhausforum Bern, „Whatever we have“
2013 Arte Laguna, Finalist Artist, Arsenale Venice, Italy, „Mars“
2012 Big Data, Swiss Re Rüschlikon
2011 Jungkunst, City Halle Winterthur, „Erinnerungen sammeln“

2023 “Atlas of Aspect change” Tine Melzer, Switzerland, 2023
2023 “WOZ” Newspaper Articel (german) Switzerland, 26.01.23
2023 “Neue Wege” Magazine Article (German) Switzerland, January 2023
2022 “Der Bund” Newspaper Articel (german) Switzerland, 1.12.22
2022 “TeleBielingue” TV Interview (french/swissgerman) Switzerland, 4.12.22
2020 Review about how to dismantle a bomb on SARN (Swiss Artistic research Network)

2024—2025 CAS in theory and history of photography, University of Zurich
2018—2020 Master Contemporary Art Practice, University of Arts, Bern
2014—2015 Masterclass Anzenberger, Vienna
2004—2005 GaF, Gruppe Autodidaktischer Fotograf*innen, Bern

2025 Focus Photo, Pro Helvetia
2025 Metron Förderpreis
2022 Prix Photoforum Winner 2022 with "how to dismantle a bomb" (Bringing light into Dark)
2022 ‹Continuer› Research Grant of the Canton of Bern for "how to dismantle a bomb"
2022 Travel research grant of the City of Bern for how "to dismantle a bomb"
2021 Support grant, Kunstkommission City of Bern
2021 Project contribution of the Canton Arts Commission Bern
2021 Support grant Burgergemeinde Bern
2020 Support grant Bürgi-Willert Stiftung
2019 Selected by the Tête-à-tête competition, Canton of Bern, Kulturförderung des Kt. Bern
2019 Education Grant, Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation
2018 Real 21, Media Fund Scholarship
2017 Travel grants from the canton of Bern (fine arts)
2017 Selected by the Tête-à-tête competition, Canton of Bern, Kulturförderung des Kt. Bern
2016 ViennaPhotoBookAward, Austria (nomination)
2015 Landskrona Photo & Breadfield Dummy Award, Sweden (2nd place)
2014 Greenpeace Photo Award (nomination)
2013 SDC and MAZ scholarship for Laos
2013 Berne Photo Prize 2013 (nomination)