Nazanin Hafez (*1991 in Shiraz, Iran) is a visual artist based in Iran and Germany. In her artistic practice, she critically engages with social and political injustices, particularly focusing on the impacts of the repressive regime in Iran. Her current work explores the boundaries of depicting scenes of violence and their actors and victims, always striving for an empathetic and dignified approach to the painful subject matter. She employs various mediums, from photography and collage to video and installations.
+++Current Exhibitions+++
–Museum Folkwang Essen, Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreise 15 (Currently- 04 January 2026)
-Museum Wiesbaden, Vordemberge-Gildewart Foundation Exhibition (Currently- 30 November 2025)
+++Upcoming Exhibitions+++
–Galerie d’exposition de l’Arsenal, Art Prize Robert Schuman, Metz, France (Vernissage: 13 November 2025)
–Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (TBA)
Educational Background
-Meisterschülerin of Prof. Judith Samen, Academy of Fine Arts Mainz (Currently)
-Postgraduate studies in Fine Art under Prof. Parastou Forouhar, Academy of Fine Arts Mainz, Germany (2022 – 2024)
-B.A. Media Art and Design under Prof. Eric Lanz, Saar College of Fine Arts, Saarbrücken, Germany (2017 – 2022)
-B.Sc. Software Engineering, Dr. Shariaty Technical College, Tehran (2013)
Artist in Residence
-Festspielhaus HELLERAU, Dresden, Germany (April – May 2025)
Awards and Scholarships
2025
-Nominated for Robert Schuman Art Prize
-Nominated for Vordemberge-Gildewart Scholarship
-Shortlisted for German Peace Prize for Photography, Felix Schoeller Photo Award
2024
–Documentary Photography Grant of the Wüstenrot Foundation (Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreis der Wüstenrot Stiftung)
–Residency Prize Winner HELLERAU (European Center for the Arts)
-Prix de la Photographie, Clervaux Cité de l’image, Winner
–Förderstipendien der Stadt Saarbrücken (The Saarbrücken City Artist Grant)
–Scholarship for Socially Active Students at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
2023
-Felix Schoeller Photo Award, Best Emerging Photographer, Nominee
-POY Asia Award, Photographer of the year Asia, Award of Excellence
-Kunsthochschule Mainz Rundgangspreis für Fotografie Ateliers im Delta
2022
-BarTur Photo Award, Student Prize for Climate Change, Winner
-Ann Lesley BarTur Award, Student Prize, Highly Commended
-Barcelona Human Rights International Photo Festival- Finalist
-Münzenberg Forum’s Art Competition, Collage Competition, Winner
2021
-Saarland Scholarship for International Students (DAAD Graduation Grant)
2020
-Deutschlandstipendium
Previous Exhibitions
2025
–And This is Us, Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt (DE)
–All Diese Dinge. Kunsthalle Mainz (DE)
-HELLERAU Residency Prize Exhibition, Festspielhaus HELLERAU, Dresden (DE)
2024
–HELLERAU Residency Prize Exhibition, Solo Exhibition, Festspielhaus HELLERAU, Dresden (DE)
–HELLERAU Photography Award, Museum of Science and Technology, Dresden (DE)
–RAY Triennial of Photography, Museum for applied Arts, Frankfurt (DE)
–Prix de la Photographie, Montée du Château, Clervaux (LUX)
–Bing Bing, Chugye University for the Arts, Seoul
2023
–SaarArt 2023, Modern Gallery of Saarland Museum, Saarbrücken (DE)
-Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei, Leipzig (DE)
–BarTur Photo Award, Instytut Fotografii Fort, Warschau (PL)
–Felix Scholler Photo Award, Museumsquartier Osnabrück (DE)
–BarTur Photo Award, Freiraum für Fotografie(f3), Berlin (DE)
2022
–Barcelona Human Rights International Photo Festival, Barcelona (ES)
–Münzenberg Forum’s Art Competition, Verlagsgebäude Neues Deutschland, Berlin (DE)
-Deutsch-Französischer Garten, Saarbrücken (DE)
Mentorships / Professional Developments
2024
-RAY-Triennale Masterclass, Mentor: Anton Kusters, Frankfurt (DE)
2023
-Canon Student Development Programme, Mentor: Jerome Sessini, Girona (ES) and Perpignan (FR)
Publikations / Press / Artist Talk
– Interview: Nazanin Hafez- And this is us / Frankfurter Kunstverein/ Frankfurt/ July 2025
– Dresden: Einzigartige Foto-Portraits ausgezeichnet / Interview with MDR Radio / August 2024
– Portraits: HELLERAU Photography Award / Exhibition Catalogue / Dresden/ 2024
– Enge Verbundenheit mit der Welt/ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)/ Katharina Deschka / Frankfurt / 6 June 2024
–Lumières sur de nouveaux regards: Prix de la photographie à Clervaux / Tageblatt / Luxembourg / May 2024
–Soft Proof / Exhibition Catalogue / RAY Triennial / MAK Frankfurt / 2024
–Wie man als Künstler überlebt, … / Interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) / Frankfurt / 28 April 2024
–Prix de la Photographie, Clervaux Cité de l’image / Exhibition Catalogue / Clervaux / Luxembourg / 2024
–Nazanin Hafez: SaarArt 2023 / Interview with SR / Conducted by: Harriet Weber Schäfer / ARD Mediathek / May 2023
–Women Life Freedom : Panel Discussion with Iranian Artists / Conducted by: Dr. Andrea Jahn / Modern Gallery of
Saarland Museum / July 2023
–SaarART 2023: AU RENDEZ VOUS DES AMIS / Exhibition Catalogue / Saarbrücken / 2023
–Fratzen der Unmenschlichkeit / Saar-Art.de / 2023
–Landesausstellung als Versuchsballon / By Tobias Kessler / Saarbrücker Zeitung / Saarbrücken / 28 Juni 2022