Birthe Piontek was born in Leer, Germany in 1976. She earned a B.A. in History and German Language and Literature at the Universität zu Köln in 1997, and received her M.A. in Communication Design and Photography from the Universität Duisburg-Essen in 2004.

Piontek’s work has been exhibited internationally, and has been featured in publications including The New York Times Magazine, Spex, Stern, Western Living, and Die Zeit. She has received numerous awards, and was named a finalist for the Santa Fe Prize in Photography in 2007. Piontek lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia.