Hello and welcome!
Ethnically, I have roots in Persian, Arab, Turk and Azari. With some experience in academics, first in Architecture and then in Photography, I feel confident calling myself an artist photographer and educator.
I’m not sure if photography is that much important to be categorized as an objective or subjective way of making art; but life itself is enough a subjective experience. It’s pure enough to beleive in everyone’s effort. And effort has a close connection to life, art, randomness, solidarity and eventually to being an artist.
Basically I’m working on three lifetime projects and do some small stories besides.
Ethnically, I have roots in Persian, Arab, Turk and Azari. With some experience in academics, first in Architecture and then in Photography, I feel confident calling myself an artist photographer and educator.
I’m not sure if photography is that much important to be categorized as an objective or subjective way of making art; but life itself is enough a subjective experience. It’s pure enough to beleive in everyone’s effort. And effort has a close connection to life, art, randomness, solidarity and eventually to being an artist.
Basically I’m working on three lifetime projects and do some small stories besides.
Being nominated and awarded the special jury mention of Prix Elysee made the chance to move to Switzerland and I am honored to work at Plateforme10, an art district hosting three museums of the Vaud state, Photo Elysee, Mudac, and MCBA.
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I appreciate that you're still reading; by the way, the flying fish you observe is actually the Caspian sturgeon fish (The source of the most expensive Caviar in the world), and sadly on the verge of extinction.
"Photography is a way to find love. Doesn't matter inside or out."
Khashayar Javanmardi
Khashayar Javanmardi
Born in 1991, is a Persian Non-Fiction artist photographer. Javanmardi’s poetic depictions of the Caspian Sea reflect his own upbringings along its shorelines, the urgent pressure of climate change and environmental degradation on this important body of water, and the lives that persist on its banks. Javanmardi’s sympathetic documentary voice captures both the mystery and poetry of the Iranian coastline, but also the stark contrast of pollution and destruction of the natural environment.
Javanmardi’s Caspian work also speaks of the contradictions of his homeland. Javanmardi is now based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Javanmardi’s Caspian work also speaks of the contradictions of his homeland. Javanmardi is now based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
B.A in Photojournalism from Danish Media and Journalism School (DMJX)
Addmited MFA from Yale University, deffered due to the U.S new immigration laws.
Lausanne, Switzerland
2023 - Present
Photo Elysee Museum
Lausanne, Switzerland
2023 - Present
Educator
Indipendant
2015 - Present
Ambassador
Save The Caspian Sea NGO
2025 - Present
Founder
MAMÂT Art Collective
2020 - 2023
Photographer
Jaam Photo Agency
2013-2015
Caspian; A Southern Reflection, published by LooseJoints, 2024
See The Caspian, Published by Elysee Museum, Nominee books, 2023
2026
Upcoming... Le locle, Switzerland
2026
Emerge 25, Midwest Center for Photography, MWCP, Kansas, USA
2025
Caspian Lake, First Museum Solo, Foam Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2025
Caspian Lake, SIFEST, Savignano sul Rubicone, Italy
2025
Caspian, Alt+1000, Le Locle, Switzerland
2025
Caspian, Swiss Design Award, Art Basel, Base, Switzerland
2025
Caspian Is Not A Sea, Photoforum Pasquart, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
2024
Caspian, Window 14 Gallery, Gevena, Switzerland
2024
Evidence Road, Silkroad Gallery, Paris Photo Fair, Paris, France
2023
Caspian Eyes, Choom Gallery, Anzali, Iran
2022
Looking for Tethys, Arqavan Gallery, Rasht, Iran
2022
Urban Portrain, Kommune Aarhus, Denmark
2021
Sheed Show, Silkroad Gallery, Tehran
2019
Festspielhaus Hellerau, Dresden Museum, Dresden, Germany
2019
2025
PhotoForum, First Prize, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
2024
Aperture Portfolio Shortlist, U.S
2024
TruePicture, Special Mention, Switzerland
2024
PhMuseum Grant, Second Prize, Spain
2024
Un/Fund Grant Award, Netherlands
2023
Lenzburg Fotofestival, Shortlisted, Switzerland
2023
Verzasca Foto Gold Medal, Switzerland
2023
Prix Elysee, Special Jury Mention, Switzerland
2023
ECCA Family Foundation, Grant Award, Denmark
2020
International Photography Grant, London, Nominee
2018
The Guardian; Observer Big Picture
Creative Review; Documenting life and decay along the Caspian Sea
CNN; Striking Photographs document environmental decay on world’s largest lake
Foul smells and survival along the Caspian Sea – in pictures
This Is Paper; Caspian
Collector Daily; Khashayar Javanmardi, Caspian; A Southern Reflection
Booooooom; Caspian
Save The Caspian Sea - Official Ambassador
Special Jury mention of Prix Elysee
Blind Magazine; Through Window; By Sabyl Ghoussoub
Musée Magazine; Caspian; A Southern Reflection
Artdaily, Caspian Sea’s environmental crisis
International Photography Magazine; To leave, or not to leave
Last Updated 28.12.2025