Solmaz Daryani

Daryani studied computer science at Azad University, emerging from school with a B.A. in software engineering. She started approaching photography as a self-taught photographer in 2012, after independent studies on cinematography. In fall 2019, she received The Alexandra Boulat Grant[4] in remembrance of the late, prize winning French photographer, who was a member and co-founder of VII Photo Agency, to study at DMJX. In 2017, she received the Magnum Foundation Grant[5] for a call themed “On Religion” and in 2015, she received the IdeasTap and Magnum Photos Grant[6] while working on the long-term project "The Eyes of Earth",[7] an investigation into the environmental and human impact of the drying of Lake Urmia, one of the most unfortunate environmental disasters of Iran. In 2018, she received second place in PhotogrVphy Grant[8] in the category of Climate.

She is a member of Women Photograph and DiversifyPhoto.[9] Through her work, she explores the link between conflict, girl's education, child marriage, and climate change.Her projects investigates the diversity of lifestyles and relationship between people and their environment through personal narratives by identifying locations, characters and scenes.[10] Solmaz Daryani usually works on long-term projects. Since the beginning of her career, she has worked on storytelling by creating series over more extended periods to understand how time impacts the people, environment and life around her and to observe the details of narratives. Her long-term photo projects include The Eyes of Earth (2014–ongoing)[11][12] and In Deserts of Wetland (2018-ongoing).[13] In 2017, she featured in a French documentary film "Focus Iran"[14] about five Iranian photographers testify to the vitality of a creation confronted with the rules.[15]

Daryani has worked internationally, covering water crisis, climate change, and social documentary stories in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Her work has been published by international magazines and newspapers such as Der Spiegel,[16][17] National Geographic Magazine,[18] Atlas Obscura,[19] Foreign Policy Magazine,[20] L'OBS Magazine, Zenith,[21] The Weather Channel,[22] Le Monde hors serie, Polka Magazine,[23][24] The American Scholar Magazine,[25] Télérama Magazine,[26][27] OneWorld Magazine, Zenith Magazine,[28] Woman Paper Visa journal,[29] Emerge Magazine,[30] Kel12 Magazine,[31] The Caravan Magazine,[32] Fotoblur magazine, and other publications.[33]

• 2020 Award of Excellence in 75th College Photographer of the Year in the category of Portrait [34]
• 2020 Runner up for MARILYN STAFFORD FOTOREPORTAGE AWARD[35]
• 2019 Recipient of Alexandra Boulat Grant by the VII Foundation and VII Academy[36]
• 2019 Finalist in The IWPA Award by the International Women Photographers Association, France[37]
• 2018 Second Place, 2018 PhotogrVphy Grant in the category of Climate
• 2018 Shortlisted for The IWPA Award by the International Women Photographers Association 2018, France
• 2017 Recipient of Magnum Foundation “On Religion” collaborative photography Grant, NYC, USA
• 2016 Recipient of IdeasTap with Magnum Photos Grant, London, United Kingdom
• 2016 Shortlisted for D&AD Next Photographer Award, London, United Kingdom[38]
• 2015 Shortlisted for Sheed Grant (Independent Award for Documentary Photography)[39]
• 2013 Tirgan Contemporary Art Prize Award,[40] Toronto, Canada
• 2013 Shortlisted for Borsa International Photography Festival, Borsa, Turkey

• 2020 After Us, The Flood in KUNST HAUS WIEN ecological museum, Wien (AUT)[41]
• 2020 Brooklyn, NYC, Photoville’s Artists to Watch (US)[42]
• 2020 PhEST International festival of photography and art, Monopoli (ITL)[43]
• 2020 My Environment International Festival, Neue Schule für Fotografie, Berlin (DE)[44]
• 2019 F2 Fotofestival on Water and justice, Dortmund, Germany[45]
• 2019 UNDP’s exhibition on inequality and climate change at Photoville[46] in Brooklyn, NYC, United States[47][48]
• 2019 Group show, IRAN, 1979-2019 MAUPETIT CÔTÉ Gallery, Marseille[49]
• 2019 IWPA travelling exhibition, La Galerie, Dubai, Alliance Française
• 2018 “(IR) REAL IRAN”, Gallery Mandarin, Paris(FR), In partnership with Sciences Po Paris and the NGO La Chaîne
• 2017 “Iran Anne 38” Group show, Les Rencontres d’Arles[50] Festival, Église Sainte-Anne, Arles (FR)[51][52]
• 2016 PondyPHOTO India International Art Festival (India)
• 2013 Bursa Photo Festival, Colors of life exhibition, Bursa, Turkey
• 2013 Tirgan Iranian/Canadian art and culture Festival and Visual art exhibition (CA)[53]
• 2012 HIPA Photo Contest annual Book exhibition[54] in Wollongong University of Dubai (UAE)

• Official Website
• Media related to Solmaz Daryani at Wikimedia Commons