About me

Born to an Armenian family in Damascus - Syria 1984, currently based in Dubai - U.A.E. Nairy Shahinian’s artistic practice approaches photography as a never-ending process of discovery.

Nairy often employs experimental techniques as investigative tools, allowing her to intimately document her immediate surroundings and experiences.

Her knowledge of the medium developed at a young age in the Damascus studio of her late father, Vahe, an established photographer in Syria.

She earned a Professional Photography Diploma from the New York Institute of Photography in 2008, and has professionally worked in the creative, technical and back offices of art entities for more than a decade.

In recent years Nairy has created several photographic series that have been presented at international art spaces and events. She’s been also working on relocating her  late father’s photography archive out of Syria, as well as working as a freelance photographer, mainly specialized to provide photo, imagery and visual services for the art field.

Exhibitions and Participations

  • Walking Tour based on #WhatDoesItMean_ToYou_Armenia project. Conducted with the support of NIDID NGO and Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Yerevan, Armenia 2023. 

  • Encounters, SACF (Syrian Arts & Culture Festival) in London, online exhibition 2023. 

  • The Talking Cure by The Big Conversation Space, The Talk Show, CAC Brétigny, France 2022.

  • Visualizing Yerevan workshop by NIDID NGO, Yerevan, Armenia 2021.

  • Contemporary Syrian Art online auction by Atassi Foundation and ArtScoops 2020.

  • Documenting Humanity collective photography exhibition, La Tozi Gallery and Hotel, Chiapas, Mexico 2020.

  • Documenting Humanity collective photography exhibition, Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo, Mexico City, Mexico 2019-2020.

  • Documenting Humanity collective photography exhibition, Mordad Gallery, Bandar Abbas, Iran 2019

  • Documenting Humanity collective photography exhibition, Diba Gallery, Isfahan, Iran 2019.

  • Documenting Humanity collective photography exhibition, Iran Artist Forum, Tehran, Iran 2019.

  • Collective exhibition, Fata Morgana Galerie (coGalleries), Berlin, Germany 2017.

  • Vantage Point Sharjah 5 collective photography exhibition, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, U.A.E. 2017.

  • Re-Inventing Imagery collective photography exhibition, Art Jameel Photography Award, Naila Art Gallery, Riyadh, K.S.A. 2016.

  • KUNST2016 collective exhibition, Lite-haus Galerie + Projekraum, Berlin, Germany 2016.

  • Inshala Everything Will Be Fixed group experiment, Satellite Space, Dubai, U.A.E. 2016.

  • Vantage Point Sharjah 4 collective exhibition, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, U.A.E. 2016.

  • Creators Deserve to be Seen, Chatham Gallery, New York, U.S.A. 2016.

  • The Taste of Light photography and digital media exhibition, GaleriaZero, Barcelona, Spain 2015.

  • Calling collective exhibition, GaleriaZero, Barcelona, Spain 2015.

  • Scope Miami Beach Art Fair, U.S.A. 2015.

  • Florence Biennale X edition, Florence, Italy 2015.

  • KunstBerlin, Berlin Art Platform in Berlin, Germany 2015.

  • Ecstatic Moments solo exhibition, Ayyam Projects, Beirut, Lebanon 2015.

  • Imago Mundi exhibition, featured in the framework of the Venice Biennale, Fondazione Cini, Venice, Italy 2015.

  • Fifth Annual Exposure Photography Award, Louvre Museum, Paris, France 2015.

  • Collective exhibition for international artists, HAUPT - Ort für Gestaltung, Basel, Switzerland 2015.

  • World Art Dubai art fair, Dubai, U.A.E. 2015.

  • Collective exhibition at Instituto de Estudios Portuarios, Malaga, Spain 2015.

  • Creatives! Art Show collective exhibition, Art Sawa - Al Qouz, Dubai, U.A.E. 2015.

  • Vertigo Art Salon collective exhibition, The Creative Center at MTC, New York, U.S.A. 2015.

  • The Tunnel-Project collective exhibition, The Framers Gallery, London, U.K. 2014.

  • Pop-Up Night collective exhibition, Galerie Oberkampf, Paris, France 2014.

  • International Fair of Contemporary Art for Artists, HAUPT - Ort Für Gestaltung in Basel, Switzerland 2014.

  • Participation in ‘The Young Collectors Auction, Sale No. 15’ Dubai, United Arab Emirate, April 30, 2013.

  • Pecha Kucha Night (VOL. 1) Aleppo, Syria 2010.

  • Journée de la Photographie collective exhibition, French Cultural Centre (CCF), Damascus, Syria 2010.

  • Exhibition for the finalists in British Council’s photography competition in celebration of its 75th anniversary in Aleppo, Syria 2009.

  • Exhibition for the finalists in Li-Lak photography competition, Geothe Institute, Damascus, Syria 2007.