Morteza Niknahad, born in 1984 in Bandar Abbas, is an Iranian photographer and filmmaker whose work explores human experience through staged photography and personal narratives. Growing up in a coastal city by the Persian Gulf, he became fascinated with analog photography as a teenager, sparking a journey into visual storytelling. Initially focusing on filmmaking, he returned to photography in 2014, creating meticulously staged scenes inspired by his mental imagery and deep connection to the sea and his birthplace. His most renowned project, “Big Fish,” won the Wellcome Photography Prize in London for Mental Health, a reflection of his mother’s life and her struggle with a haunting illness.
Niknahad has participated in numerous group exhibitions globally, in countries such as France, Germany, China, Sweden, and Canada. He was one of the young artists invited to the prestigious 160th anniversary of the Salon des Beaux-Arts in Paris in June 2024, where he received the Jean Larivière Award for his artistic contributions. His latest solo exhibition, “Big Fish and Beyond the Seas,” held at Galerie 20 Thorigny in Paris, garnered significant attention, showcasing his ongoing exploration of memory, mental health, and human vulnerability. His works have also been featured in renowned publications like The Guardian, Le Monde, Bazaart, and BBC World.