Kiana Hayeri
Kiana Hayeri (b. 1988) is an internationally acclaimed Iranian-Canadian photojournalist and visual storyteller, known for her poignant and evocative documentation of migration, identity, and life in conflict zones. Born in Tehran, she moved to Toronto as a teenager, where photography became her tool for bridging cultural and linguistic divides. Her early passion for storytelling through images led her to Kabul in 2014, where she remained for eight years, capturing the complex realities of life in Afghanistan, particularly focusing on the themes of adolescence, identity, and sexuality in regions defined by instability and war.
Kiana’s work has earned her widespread recognition and some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, reflecting her remarkable ability to humanize global conflicts and amplify the voices of those often unheard. Among her numerous accolades are the Tim Hetherington Visionary Award (2020), the James Foley Award for Conflict Reporting (2020), the Robert Capa Gold Medal (2021), and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (2022). In 2023, she was named the laureate of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award, further solidifying her standing as a leading voice in contemporary photojournalism.
As part of The New York Times team, she contributed to coverage that won the Hal Boyle Award in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting.
In 2024, Kiana published her photobook, When Cages Fly, a deeply personal and reflective work that explores resilience in the face of adversity. The book has been shortlisted for the Rencontres d’Arles Author Book Award and is a finalist for the APhF Pick:24 Book Award. Her other published works include What We See: Women and non-binary perspectives through the lens (2023), and her contributions to the critically acclaimed Photographers Sketchbook (2015).
Kiana’s commitment to exploring stories from overlooked perspectives has made her a Senior TED Fellow and a National Geographic Explorer grantee. Her photography regularly appears in leading international publications like The New York Times and National Geographic, where she continues to shine a light on the deeply human elements of global conflict. In addition to her editorial work, she has held solo exhibitions across Europe, including Where Prison is a Kind of Freedom at the Biennale di Fotografia di Mantova, Italy (2024), and Promises Written on The Ice, Left in The Sun at the Bayeux Calvados Normandy Festival, France (2022), and the WARM Festival in Sarajevo, Bosnia (2022).
Currently based in Sarajevo, Kiana Hayeri continues to document stories from Afghanistan, the Balkans, and beyond, using her lens to challenge perceptions and give voice to those affected by the world’s most pressing crises. Through her images, she seeks to not only capture the beauty and fragility of human life but also inspire impactful change, offering audiences a window into the personal realities behind the headlines.
SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Where Prison is a Kind of Freedom, Biennale di Fotografia di Mantova, Italy (2024)
Promises Written on The Ice, Left In The Sun, Bayeux Calvados Normandy Festival, France (2022)
Promises Written on The Ice, Left In The Sun, WARM Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia (2022)
Resilience Trilogy, SpazioReale, Bellinzona (2018)
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
“When Cages Fly” – Self-published in collaboration with Raya Editorial, 2024
“What We See: Women and non-binary perspectives through the lens” – Published by White Lion Publishing, 2023
The Lovers: Afghanistan Romeo and Juliet by Rod Nordland – Published by Ecco (2016)
“Photographers Sketchbook” – Published by Thames & Hudson, 2015
