GRY ELLEBJERG

So far


I have lived many lives, but nothing changed me as profoundly as the death of my parents. After they passed, a message was written on my bones in the clearest of letters:

Life is not a rehearsal. You get one shot.

The life I was living, I had outgrown like a pair of jeans. So I packed my bags and left an old world behind, like a ship stranded in the desert, to navigate from a new compass: my gut and my creativity.

Today, that journey is my work. As a journalist, artist, and photographer, I am devoted to creating spaces for the human heart to connect. This website is the bridge for those stories, and in its first year, 50,000 people walked across it. Alongside it, a community of over 22,500 is growing on Instagram, following the daily investigation.

My work is an exploration of the human condition. In the end, we are all leaving this world, but the beauty of it is that we get to dance together.

A woman with long, wavy blonde hair holding a small dog, both sitting on a beige couch facing sideways. The woman is wearing a black top and the dog has a shield of brown and beige fur.

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.”

A person taking a selfie in an elevator mirror. They have curly blonde hair, one eye covered by sunglasses, and are wearing a black leather jacket. They are holding a beige bag and a smartphone, with a red East Asian character sticker on the photo's left side.


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 with 195 followers, and by August 2025, it had attracted over 22,500 from around the world. Building on this engagement, I launched a website on July 12, 2024. Since its launch, it has attracted over 50,000 visitors from across the globe, highlighting a significant and powerful 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)

Work With Me & Support The Mission

My work is independent and driven by a passion for amplifying queer voices. If you believe in this mission or wish to collaborate, there are several ways to get involved.

  • 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. Contact me for further information.

Current Major Project:
Where Are The Lesbians?