SHADI GHADIRIAN (Tehran, Iran) is an internationally recognized contemporary photographer whose work deeply engages with the intersections of gender, tradition, modernity, and identity in contemporary Iran. With a bachelor's degree in photography from Azad University in Tehran, Ghadirian's artistic practice critically examines the complexities faced by women navigating cultural expectations, censorship, and societal roles, offering universal resonances that extend far beyond Iran's borders.

Ghadirian first gained widespread recognition with her photographic series "Qajar" (1998) and "Like Every Day" (2001), renowned for their striking juxtapositions of historical imagery and contemporary objects, which provoke discussions around the enduring contradictions in Iranian society. Her other notable series include "Ctrl+Alt+Delete" (2006), examining technology's ambiguous impact on personal relationships and physical bodies, and "Nil, Nil" (2008), which powerfully addresses the ongoing and persistent scars of war in everyday life.

Ghadirian’s work has been exhibited extensively around the globe, with solo exhibitions held at major institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Bibliothèque Municipale de Lyon in France, and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan, Armenia. Her photographs are part of prestigious public collections including The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Based in Tehran, Ghadirian continues to challenge artistic and social boundaries through her provocative and insightful explorations of the human condition.

In addition to Nil, Nil, we publish here her latest series, titled Seven Stones, 2023.

Please visit her official website to explore more of Shadi Ghadirian’s work.