I was born in Russia but spent my childhood in Minsk, Belarus. I graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University) with a degree in public relations. After winning a Russian PR competition, I worked on the agency side for several years, but then decided to move to Germany and pursue photography.
I participated in the World Press Photo Foundation Joop Swart Masterclass 2018 and the 6th annual New York Portfolio Review.
I’m the winner at TIPC 2017 and PDN Photo Annual 2017, LHSA Grant recipient and VG-Bild Kunst Scholarship recipient. In 2012 I was awarded a scholarship at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German political foundation.
I was featured by Artsy as one of the 20 rising Female Photojournalists (2019) and my work has been published in The New York Times, GEO France, DIE ZEIT, ZEIT Wissen, ZEIT online, ZEIT leo, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times Lens blog, POLKA, 6’MOIS, Viewfinder, Caravan among others.
I am always inspired by the strength of people's characters and a passion for life, love, the aesthetics of beauty, art and traveling. I am always open to new experiences, enjoy every moment of my life, try to never stop improving personally and professionally. I believe in the power of strong wishes and working on your dreams.
The progress is important for me, but even more significant is harmony.
Awards
ARTSY/20 rising female Photojournalists 2019
Shortlisted: UNSEEN Dummy Award 2019
Nominee: Felix Schoeller Photo Award, Best work by an emerging photographer 2019
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards, Finalist, 2019
Verzasca Foto Festival Awards - 2019 Nera Prize, Finalist
World Press Photo Foundation, Joop Swart Masterclass 2018
6th annual New York Portfolio review
31 Women to Watch Out for - British Journal of Photography
Screening at Visa pour L'image 2018
PHmuseum Women Photographers Grant 2018, Honorable Mention
Exhibiting Artist at OBSCURA Festival of Photography 2018
ARTPHIL 30 under 30/WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS 2018
Shortlisted: Athens Photo Festival 2018
Shortlisted: The Royal Photographic Society's International Photography Exhibition 161
LHSA (The International Leica Society) Photography Grant recipient 2017
International Photographer of the year (IPOTY), Honorable Mention, 2017
Winner at Tokyo International Photo Competition 2017
Otto-Steinert-Preis 2017, Finalist
Photogrvphy Grant 2017, Nominee Award in Photojournalism
Winner at PDN Photo Annual - Student Category, 2017
Exhibiting Artist at Belfast Photo Festival 2017
Exhibiting Artist at Schömberg Photo Festival 2017
VG-Bild Scholarship recipient, 2016
Kreatives Wertpapier 2015 Award, Recipient
South Tyrol Media Award, Finalist in photography category, 2013
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Scholarship recipient, since 2012
Representative for all international scholarship recipients 2017/2018
Welt Kompakt Digital Reportage Award, Finalist in photography category,2011
Russian Presidential Youth Advacement Award, Recipient, 2010
Winner of 6. all-Russian national competitions for students in PR, 2009
Exhibitions
UPCOMING: Bundeskunsthalle Bonn (Germany): “Ordinary People”, June - August 2020
Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Germany): “Ordinary People”, November - December 2019
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Gallery (Germany): “Abkhazia” (SOLO), March - May 2019
Visa pour L'image (France): screening “Abkhazia”, September 2018
OBSCURA Festival of Photography (Malaysia): “Abkhazia”, August 2018
Belfast Photo Festival (UK): “Abkhazia”, June 2017
Schömberg Photo Festival (Germany): “Abkhazia”, October 2017
Education
University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Dortmund, Germany
Master in Photography, Since 2017
University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hanover, Germany (Prof. Rolf Nobel)
Bachelor in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, 2016
Moscow Aviation Institute, Moscow, Russia
Bachelor in Public Relations, 2011
High School Diploma with a concentration in English, 2006
Art School № 3, Kaluga, Russia, 2004
Interviews
The International Leica Society: https://lhsa.org/2018/05/the-soul-of-ksenia-kuleshova/
Canon: https://www.canon-europe.com/pro/stories/ksenia-kuleshova-canon-student/