“All my projects are about the human

condition at this moment in time”  


I had my mouth full of cava when my good friend Monica gave me the look. “Gry you need to take your life seriously. It’s not a rehearsal! You get one chance.” Shortly after our drink, two women close to my heart died. I will never forget my last phone call with Merete. With a voice that went right through my bone and marrow: “I am 80 years old. My cancer eats me alive. I weigh 44 kilos. If you know what you want to do, don’t postpone it. Do it now!”

The other person was my mother. We had a complex relationship but during our last walk in Trelleborg on a sunny winter day, she told me the things a mother needs to tell her daughter before she takes that final journey. Even today my heart feels warm when I think of it. She was there for my first breath. I was there for her last. That changed me to my core.

With both my parents dead I really got the message. When looking at my face in the mirror I could see how time marked my skin with deeper lines and curves. It added a depth to my being. Almost as if I got a new eye. To my surprise love was all that was left. The kind of love that makes you want to connect authentically. The kind of love that makes it impossible to fake my life anymore. Each time I tried I broke down. It added a new beautiful layer to my life.

My inside was kicked around and my heart became soft as a sponge. To live is a very physical experience. Changes are too. I started to plan my exit from the life I had lived for so many years. A life I had outgrown as a pair of jeans. It was like leaving an old ship out in the desert.

Now I find myself in a completely new setting. I have turned into a journalist who wants to devote the rest of my time to connect with the human heart and our capacity to love. I work from my gut and I create my life and work as I go. I have no answers but I am convinced I will know what to do when I get there. As humans we live in a reality that changes with every breath we take. If we look deeply into our condition, we don’t have a lot to hold on to, besides the moment now. The beauty of it is that the present is a very magical place. My intention is to live the rest of my life there as much as I can.

I believe strongly in the power of listening and sharing each other's stories. I believe in learning and trying to see things from different points of view. I believe that love and understanding of the conditions of living is our bridge to realize that our existence is a loan and we are all in this dance together! In getting that, we can offer support and kindness. All my projects are about the human condition in this moment of time. If I can shed some light on the matter, I am good.

The tools I use to explore and share these human stories are those I've developed over two decades. I have worked as a journalist & photographer for more than 20 years. Please contact me directly for projects or to inquire about purchasing my work. All pictures are mine and are not free to use.

Malmö, Sweden July 12, 2024

Walk in peace
Gry Ellebjerg

What Colleagues Say

"Gry is colorful, intuitive, good at connecting with people, unconventional, seeing the picture and daring to wait in or search for it, following the feeling, going beyond the beaten path.
She is a great portrait photographer. Creative and inventive journalist who often finds her own and different angles. A good storyteller/stylist that writes scenically and compellingly.
She has a great drive and on the field she is an energy kick in all projects. It is easy to work with Gry, since she is always communicative and listening. A bonus is that you get to be with a fun colleague.”


This is Gry Ellebjerg.
So far.


Current Major Project: Where Are The Lesbians?
An Inquiry into Queer Female Public Life in Post-Pandemic Europe

This ongoing independent investigation explores the shifting landscape of lesbian visibility and community. While pride flags become more mainstream, I'm examining how and where queer women, particularly lesbians, are gathering, finding joy, and navigating public life today. Are we still "chilling at home," or are new forms of connection emerging?

I believe in going beyond the beaten path, waiting for the authentic moment to reveal itself. I work with and from my gut. I believe in conversations rather than in interviews. My process is deeply personal, aiming to capture the true experiences and unspoken truths of the communities I engage with. I find my way as I walk it!

To share this journey, I started an Instagram account dedicated to lesbian spaces in February 2024, and by May 2025, it had attracted over 19,000 followers from around the world. Building on this engagement, I launched a website in July 2024, featuring stories from the road. The response has been powerful, with the site drawing almost 20,000 unique visitors in February 2025 alone, highlighting a significant global interest in these narratives.

Work Experience

  • Local Editor | Hem & Hyra, Helsingborg | 2006 – 2023

    • Hem & Hyra is the member publication for the Swedish Union of Tenants, focusing on issues critical to renters such as housing rights, policy, and living conditions. The platform delivers in-depth articles, news, and consumer advice, serving as a key voice for tenants in Sweden.

    • Managed three local editions end-to-end, from initial concept "ax to loaf" to publication.

    • Produced a wide range of content including breaking news, in-depth reportage, and comprehensive reviews.

    • Responsible for daily web publishing (WordPress, Google Analytics), social media dissemination, photography, video production, freelance management, and budget oversight.

    • Key tools: InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro.

  • Image Editor | Politiken Forlag, Copenhagen | 2015 – 2016

    • Sourced and curated all imagery for seven travel guides in the acclaimed "Turen Går Til" (The Trip Goes To) series, Scandinavia's largest travel guide collection.

    • Managed visual content for books covering diverse global destinations, each approximately 170 pages.

  • Freelance Journalist | Malmö | 2005 – 2006

    • Specialized in long-form reportage on housing issues and social topics.

    • Contributed to publications such as Socionomen, Röda Korsets tidning (Red Cross Magazine), Mana, Aluma (Street Paper), Donationsrådet (The Donation Council), Bang, Vägverket (Swedish Road Administration), and Malmö Stad (City of Malmö).

  • Chief Editor | Aluma Street Magazine, Malmö | 2004 – 2005

    • Led all editorial content from conception to publication from "ax to loaf".

    • Wrote feature reportages, managed freelance contributors, and maintained daily contact with the magazine's vendors.

Education & Creative Development

  • Vesterbro Creative Writing School | Copenhagen, Denmark | 2017

    • Studied with acclaimed authors Christina Hesselholdt, Peter-Bang Fors, and Anders Abildgaard.

  • Master of Arts in Comparative Literature | University of Gothenburg | 2003

  • Folk High School Teacher Degree (Communication) | Linköping University | 2002

  • Journalism Program | Kalix Folkhögskola | 1996 – 1997

  • Creative Writing Course | Nordens Folkhögskola, Biskops-Arnö | 1990 – 1991

Exhibitions, Publications & Merits

  • Grant Recipient (26,000 SEK) by Publicistklubben (PK) to visit the lesbian community in Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom, 2025.

  • Exhibition and Artist Talk: “From The Gut” on lesbian life in Europe,
    Gasebacks Filmfestival, Helsingborg, August 2024.

  • Pop-up Shop: Ran a month-long pop-up shop selling Art Posters at local shop Arsenik, Malmö, 2023.

  • Exhibition: Art Posters by Gry Ellebjerg, AB Småland (Lifestyle Shop), Malmö | 2021

  • Founder: Art Posters by Gry Ellebjerg (Webshop) | 2020-2024

  • Photography Exhibition: In Our Hearts, We Are All Neighbors, Landskrona Museum | 2019

  • Contributing Writer: Anthology #I Am Here | 2018

  • Grant Recipient (35,000 SEK): Research project in Salt Lake City, USA, studying the state's successful model for ending chronic homelessness | 2015.

  • Contributing Writer: Anthology Woman, Love, and the Novel (on Sophie Sager) | 2001

Skills & Expertise

  • Storytelling & Journalism: Investigative Research, In-depth Interviewing, Long-Form Narrative Writing, Feature Articles, Editing (Ax to Loaf), Ethical Reporting, Finding Unique Angles.

  • Photography & Visual Arts: Documentary Photography, Portraiture, Street Photography, Visual Essay Creation, Art Poster Design.

  • Editorial Management: Budget Oversight, Freelance Coordination, Daily Web Publishing, Social Media Strategy.

  • Technical Proficiencies: WordPress, Google Analytics, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, DSLR Camera Systems.

  • Languages: Swedish (Native/Fluent), English (Fluent)

Support This Independent Work

My independence allows me to pursue stories that matter, often those overlooked by mainstream media. This work is driven by a commitment to amplifying queer voices and documenting our evolving histories.

If you connect with this mission and value the stories I uncover, please consider supporting my ability to continue.

  • Make a Donation

  • Commission a Story or Photographs
    Besides storytelling and journalistic assignments, my photography services include portraits, artist performances, acting as a “fly-on-the-wall” photographer at family events, and producing exclusive image banks for companies. Additionally, if you need a DJ for your cocktail party, I'll craft the perfect soundtrack for your occasion. Contact me for further information.

  • Purchase an Art Poster: Visit my webshop

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps me dedicate time and resources to this vital work. I’m incredibly grateful for any support you can offer.