Medya Stemerding Shikhagaie is a Kurdish-Swedish contemporary photographer and immunologist who is based in Haarlem (NL).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance Photographer, Mediahuis NL (AlleTijd weekend magazine, Haarlems Dagblad en Noordhollands Dagblad)
Selected Projects
'The Fallen Leaves Are Dancing' (Kurdish memory, exile, and intergenerational identity explored through photography, archives, moving image, and installation)
'The Last Artisans' in Haarlem
EDUCATION
Conceptual photography program at Fotoacademie Amsterdam, graduation (Dec 2025)
EXHIBITIONS
Upcoming
Platforms Project Art Fair 2026 - Athens, Greece (Sept 2026)
Verwey Musem Haarlem, Solo Exhibition (Jan-April 2027)
Limassol Biennale 2027 as part of the FotoSlovo Award Exhibitions
2026
Elswout Exhibition, Haarlem (Sept 2026)
'The Living Form' (March - April), also part of Rotterdam Art Week
'In de Schaduw van de nacht', Haarlem (Feb)
2025
Graduation Exhibition (LUMEN25), Fotoacademie, Haarlem (Dec)
Screening for House of Revision, Haarlem (Nov)
Kunstlijn, Haarlem (Nov)
2024
Solo Exhibition ‘The last artisans in Haarlem’ (City Hall, Haarlem)
2023
‘Identiteiten’ (Martini Plaza, Groningen)
AWARDS/PUBLICATIONS
2026
StrudelmediaLive Photography Mentoring Scholarship
Markaz Review, Kurdish Issue : selected artists & photographers
Gold Medal, FotoSlovo Awards 2026 — International photography competition.
2025
Pf Fotografie Magazine #8 (Dec)
Yoga International Magazine #1,3,4 Haarlem Dagblad (June, Dec)
Sala Allehanda (May)
Invited speaker at Rotary club Haarlem (Feb)
2024
Sala Allehanda (Jan)
Van Der Pigge, GAAP Magazine (May)
© Frank Degen