Mehrdad Mirzaie Wins 2026 Lenscratch Student Prize for 'Garden'
Mehrdad Mirzaie has been awarded the top spot in the 2026 Lenscratch Student Prize for his project, 'Garden.' Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, he is an Iranian artist who completed his MFA in Photography at Arizona State University in 2025 and is now working on an MA in Art History there. This honor includes a $2000 cash prize, mentorship from Aline Smithson, and chances for reviews and exhibitions. The judging panel featured notable figures, including Smithson and past winners. 'Garden' showcases anonymous vernacular photos from digital archives, highlighting the stories of individuals affected by political repression in Iran since 1979. Mirzaie's work explores memory and visibility in censored contexts, and he is also the Assistant Curator at Northlight Gallery.
Key facts
- Mehrdad Mirzaie won the 2026 Lenscratch Student Prize 1st Place for his project 'Garden'.
- Mirzaie received his MFA in Photography from Arizona State University in 2025 and is pursuing an MA in Art History there.
- The prize includes a $2000 cash prize, review sessions, a $500 gift certificate from Freestyle Photo, a mini exhibition on The Curated Fridge, book collections, a mentorship with Aline Smithson, and a feature on Lenscratch.
- The jury included Aline Smithson, Daniel George, Linda Alterwitz, Kellye Eisworth, Vicente Cayula, Alexa Dilworth, Kris Graves, Karen Haas, Yorgos Efthymiadis, Hamidah Glasgow, Samantha Johnston, and past winners.
- 'Garden' comprises thousands of anonymous vernacular photographs from digital archives and social media, transferred onto glass.
- The images depict individuals who lost their lives, were forcibly disappeared, or arrested due to socio-political conditions in Iran from 1979 to the present.
- Mirzaie is an Iranian interdisciplinary artist, assistant curator, and educator based in Phoenix, Arizona.
- He serves as Assistant Curator and Collection Assistant at Northlight Gallery.
Entities
Artists
- Mehrdad Mirzaie
- Aline Smithson
- Daniel George
- Linda Alterwitz
- Kellye Eisworth
- Vicente Cayula
- Alexa Dilworth
- Kris Graves
- Karen Haas
- Yorgos Efthymiadis
- Hamidah Glasgow
- Samantha Johnston
- Alayna Pernell
- Epiphany Knedler
- Jeanine Michna Bales
- Jordan Tovin
- Drew Leventhal
- Allie Tsubota
- Raymond Thompson Jr.
- Guanyu Xu
- Shawn Bush
- Drew Nikonowicz
Institutions
- Lenscratch
- Arizona State University
- The Griffin Museum of Photography
- Colorado Photographic Arts Center
- Los Angeles Center of Photography
- Freestyle Photo
- The Curated Fridge
- St. Lucy Books
- Kris Graves Projects
- Zatara Press
- Workshop Arts
- Luminosity Lab
- Radius Books
- Deadbeat Club
- Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Center for Fine Art Photography
- Northlight Gallery
Locations
- Tempe
- Arizona
- United States
- Phoenix
- New York
- London
- Boston
- Fort Collins
- Colorado
- Iran