1960 Born Heerlen, The Netherlands
1972-80 Attends Jeanne D'Arc Lyceum, Maastricht.
1980 Enrolled at the Unversity in Utrecht as a law student.
1982 Switched over to follow photography classes.
1989 First trip to Africa.
1990-91 Several trips to Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
1991 Mart Engelen starts his career as a free lance photographer. He works on advertising commissions
for clients such as Philips, Canon, Citigroup as well as for international editorials like Esquire, George, Vanity Fair.
1992-93 Works and lives for a period in Los Angeles.
1995 First solo exhibition at Kleurgamma Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1997-01 Moves to New York where he specialized himself in black and white portrait photography.
1999 Visits Africa again after 10 years to be confronted by a denatured Africa caused by overpopulation.
2000 PANL Award winner in the Category Portraits with 'Suzanne'.
2003 First book printing of 'Memories' by Mart Engelen together with a solo exhibition at Young Gallery Brussels, Belgium.
2004 First book printing 'Biarritz' by Mart Engelen.
This book shows how intrigued Mart Engelen is by Biarritz with its curious combination of a young, vivacious surf crowd, the mysterious and ancient Basque culture with its very own identity and language, and the distinguished glamour and grand style surrounding the European aristocrats and the rich and famous who have found their way to Biarritz since the early years of the twentieth century. And of course, the contrast between Biarritz, the mondaine fashionable resort with its rich history, and the rough beauty of the Atlantic coastline, Basque landscape and the Pyrenees.
2006 First book printing 'My Dog Aapje' by Mart Engelen.
A tribute in memory of Aapje, Mart Engelen's dog, who was his companion for over 15 years. Brigitte Bardot, who received a copy from Mart, calls it in her letter
'a superbe hommage'.
2009 First printing of the international bi-annual b/w photography magazine,
#59 Magazine, launched at the TEFAF international Fine Art Fair, Maastricht (The Netherlands).
2011 #59MAGAZINE For the first time available in 16 countries worldwide