Fatimah Hossaini

Visual Artist in Residence, 2025

Afghan-Tehran born artist, award-winning photographer, curator, and founder of the Mastooraat Organization, Fatimah Hossaini is a creative force whose work bridges art, identity, and advocacy. She is celebrated globally as one of the youngest recipients of the Hypatia International Award and was honored as a rising talent and youth ambassador by the Women’s Forum in France in 2022.

Her artistic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography from the University of Tehran, complemented by an earlier degree in Industrial Engineering. She formerly served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Art and Photography at Kabul University. Currently, Fatimah is a fellow in The New School’s prestigious 2024–2025 Fellowship in New York and has previously completed residencies at The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in NYC and the Cité Internationale des Arts in France.

An unwavering advocate for women’s and refugee rights, Fatimah collaborates with international organizations, including the UN and selection committee of UNESCO’s Silk Road Programs, to drive meaningful social change. Her work centers on identity, migration, and gender, with women as the heart of her storytelling. Known for her mastery in staged photography, Fatimah’s vibrant compositions and emotive narratives illuminate the resilience, beauty, and complexity of the Afghan experience.

Her art has graced the walls of galleries, museums, and art festivals across Europe, Asia, and the USA. Her thought-provoking articles and images have appeared in globally renowned publications, including TimeThe GuardianVogue France, and Arte. With each project, Fatimah continues to use her lens to amplify unheard voices and inspire profound connection.

Fatimah’s life took a profound turn in August 2021, when she was forced to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover, finding refuge in France. In exile, she completed her poignant book Beauty Amid War, capturing portraits of Afghan women from Afghanistan to exile. The book was published in 2022 by Collection des Photographes Editions in France and again in 2023 by Allemandi Editions in Italy.

In partnership with AFI’s residency program and AAPP (Afghan Artist Protection Program), Fatimah is being hosted for a fellowship at The New School’s Parsons School of Design, made possible in partnership with the New University in Exile Consortium.