Ivan Knyazev (b. 1989, Moscow) is a photographer and multidisciplinary artist. He graduated from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and the University of the Balearic Islands, where he studied art history, cultural studies, and curatorial practices.
His artistic practice has developed at the intersection of street and staged photography, esoteric research, and personal narrative. Having started his career as a photographer’s assistant, Knyazev initially worked in social reportage and advertising photography, but over time shifted his focus to authorial and conceptual work.
At the core of his practice lies the idea of the «vital frame» — an intuitively captured moment that reflects an inner state of being. For Knyazev, the camera acts as a co-author, helping him explore reality through subjective perception. His images merge urban and natural landscapes, where the human figure is seamlessly integrated into the surrounding environment. The expressive use of color and attention to the composition’s plasticity stem from his background in fashion photography.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Dublin Street Photography Festival Exhibition, Charlemont Square, Dublin
2025 Photosushka. The Russian Incredible, Zotov Center, Moscow
2025 Photosushka, Zotov Center, Moscow
2024 Eyeshot Open Call 2024, Magazzino Arti Sceniche, Bologna
2023 NFT. NYC, Times Square, New York
Competitions
2025 Dublin Street Photography Awards (Winner)
2025 White Square (Winner)
2024 Eyeshot (Finalist)
2024 LensCulture (Finalist)
2023 Independent Shorts Awards (Winner)
2023 Toronto Film and Script Awards (Winner)
2023 Berlin Indie Film Festival (Winner)
2023 Hong Kong Indie Film Festival (Semi-finalist)
2023 Berlin Shorts Award (Semi-finalist)
2023 10th ARFF Paris // International Awards (Finalist)
2023 Cannes Film Festival (Winner)
2023 Sochi Film Festival (Winner)
2022 Cannes International Film Festival
2022 Cannes Short Film Festival
2020 Red Dot Award (Winner)
2020 Cannes Lions (Shortlist)