Shaina Nasrin (b. 1996) is an Iranian-American visual artist based in Philadelphia, PA. Working in photography and video through an autobiographical framework, their art practice examines facets of identity in reference to notions of ritual, grief and the complexities of home space. Their work is inspired by the fervent use of symbolism and allegory in Persian poetry and cinema throughout history. Utilizing both documentary photography and alternative processing techniques as modes of storytelling, they look to objects and environments for visual cues that often reveal an underlying narrative living outside the frame. Taking inspiration from the details of their surroundings, they contemplate how personal and cultural loss informs a fragmented sense of identity, and how this manifests in everyday life.
Shaina holds a BFA in Photography + Film Media from The University of the Arts. Their work has been exhibited nationally at venues including Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX; Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA; Vermont Center for Photography, Brattleboro, VT; The Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD; New York University, Washington, DC; and The Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta GA among others. Shaina is a member of Batikh Batikh, a pop-up cinema and gallery centering South West Asian North African (SWANA) women and queer artists local to Philadelphia. They currently work as a Photography Lab Technician at Haverford College, where they manage the Photography Department facilities and instruct workshops on the craft of analog and digital photography.