Vahid Valikhani is an artist and researcher whose work bridges photography and film to explore complex social, cultural, and historical dynamics. His creative practice examines environmental and social conditions across both familiar and foreign landscapes. Through the intersection of landscape and portraiture, he investigates how representations of place and people mutually construct meaning—each revealing the cultural and political forces that shape the other.
Vahid’s cross-cultural perspective informs much of his work. His experiences of displacement and adaptation deepen his exploration of identity, belonging, and the political dimensions of place. In his research, he often draws upon archival materials, including film and photography, to examine shifting cultural identities and the marginalization of disenfranchised communities, including his own.
He holds a Master of Arts in Film Studies from the University of South Florida, a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Art University of Isfahan. His photographs have been exhibited internationally in Germany, Italy, Iran, and the United States. He currently lives and works in Dallas, Texas.
vahid.valikhani@gmail.com
Education
2024 Master of Arts, Film Studies,
Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
2021 Master of Fine Arts, Creative Photography,
School of Art and Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography,
Faculty of Visual Arts, Art University of Isfahan, Iran
Solo Exhibitions
2026
A Photographic Journey Across Borders,
CICA Museum, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
2025
Nebraska, Tampa: The Return to the Streets, Exhibition and Monograph Launch
Didar Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2023
Seen, Unseen,
Reitz Union Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2020
Elegies,
4Most Gallery, Gainesville, Florida
2019
Landscape and Faces,
Reitz Union Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2012
Elghâ,
Blue-Room Gallery, Isfahan, Iran
Selected Group Exhibitions and Photo Festivals
2026
The Blue of Distance,
Kingston Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
2025
City Manager's Office Annual Exhibition,
City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, Dallas, TexasreFramed,
Greater Denton Arts Council (GDAC), Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, Texas2025 SPE South Central Members Exhibition,
Tarleton State University, Fort Worth, TexasShared Thoughts,
NOVA24 | Photo + Film Festival, Hazel Park, MichiganArchive the West,
Midwest Nice Art, OnlineThe Eclectika Gallery Assistant Exhibition,
The Eclectika at 711, Irving, Texas19th Biennial Joyce Elaine Grant Exhibition,
Juried by Mazie M. Harris, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas
2024
Current Works 2024,
Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography, Kansas City, Missouri2024 SPE South Central Members Exhibition,
National Park College, Hot Springs, ArkansasTasvir Archive – A Research Exhibition on Contemporary Iranian Image-Based Art,
Northlight Gallery, Arizona State University, Phoenix, ArizonaNew Topographics: Contemporary Landscapes,
Katzman Contemporary Projects, Dover, New HampshireVariations 2024,
Marblehead Arts Association, Marblehead, MassachusettsThe Four Elements – Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
MVA Art Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2022
Into the Woods, Out of the Woods, An Unconventional Encounter with Landscape,
Historic Thomas Center, Gainesville, FloridaA Position in Nature, A Position in Power,
Good News Arts, High Springs, FloridaFramed: Trees and Water,
Black Box Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2021
Waterloo Photography Invitational 2021,
PHOTOCENTRIC Contemporary Photography Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio
Post-Industrialism,
International Group Exhibition, LoosenArt, Rome, ItalyThe Act of Silence,
University Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FloridaEmulsion Chapter II, Photography Exhibition,
The Holy Art Gallery, London, United KingdomThe Shape of Things,
Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis, MinnesotaDocuFlorida,
Pensacola Museum of Art, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
2018
Photography Student Exhibition,
Gary R. Libby Gallery, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FloridaGuitar Art: Historic Innovation of an American Icon through Industrial Design, Art & Music,
University Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2016
Art University of Isfahan: Student Juried Exhibition,
University of Education, Freiburg, Germany
2014
Photography Students Exhibition,
Creative Photography, Central Library of Isfahan, Iran
2013
Art University of Isfahan: Annual Exhibition,
Museum of Contemporary Art, Isfahan, Iran
2012
Art University of Isfahan: Annual Exhibition,
Museum of Contemporary Art, Isfahan, Iran
Selected Film Festival Awards and Nominations
2025
The Burning Land
Official Selection, Canberra Short Film Festival
2024
Echoes of Strength
Semifinalist, Rhode Island International Film Festival
Finalist, The Bay International Film Festival
Nominee, Toronto International Women Film Festival
Award Winner, MegaFlix Film Awards
Best Short Documentary Award Winner, Hercules Independent Film Festival
Outstanding Social Impact Film Official Selection, Symbiotic Film Festival
Official Selection, Montecito Student Film Festival
Artist Talks, Lectures, and Workshops
2026
Presenter, The Art of Wet Scanning: A Complete Film-to-Digital Workshop,
SPE's 63rd Annual Conference, Catalyst for Exchange, Atlanta, GeorgiaSpeaker, Evolving Realities: From Documentary Photography and Filmmaking to the Age of AI,
CoLaborator Program, MSU Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Co-presenter, Political Approaches within Music and Sound in Iranian War Films after 1979 (with Dr. Ali Montazeri),
Sounding Iran: Musical Pasts, Presents and Futures, University of California, Irvine, California
2025
Speaker, A Photographic Journey Across Borders,
SPE South Central and Tarrant County College South Campus, Fort Worth, TexasReviewer, Portfolio Throwdown- South Central '25,
SPE South Central and Tarrant County College South Campus, Fort Worth, Texas
2024
Lecturer, The Cultural Lens: Understanding the Dynamic Meanings of Photographic Imagery,
My Favorite Lecture Series, Society for Photographic Education (SPE), OnlineGuest Speaker, AI and Photography Today,
Department of Art and Art History, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Guest Speaker, Landscape and the State of Power,
Department of Art and Art History, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
Instructor, Cyanotype T-shirt Design Workshop,
Iranian Student Association, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2023
Guest Speaker, Narrative Photography,
School of Art + Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
2021
Instructor, Studio Lighting Techniques Workshop,
Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida
2020
Speaker, Landscape and Environmental Photography,
4Most Gallery, Gainesville, Florida
Publications
2025
Nebraska, Tampa; The Return to the Streets, Monograph by Vahid Valikhani,
Tavaali Publication, Tehran, Iran
2024
Unveiling Estrangement: The Ambivalence of Iranian Cultural Identity in Documentary Films,
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, ProQuest
New Topographics: Contemporary Landscapes,
Exhibition Catalog, Katzman Contemporary Projects, Dover, New Hampshire
Phantom Windows,
Imperfect Poetry, Float Photo Magazine
2023
It Changes Everything, Vahid Valikhani’s essay on the photographs of R. Maleki,
Tavaali Publication, Tehran, Iran
2021
Photographs That Reflect,
Dinner + No Show, School of Art + Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Elegies,
Talon Review, Second Volume, Dept. of English, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
2020
Through a Photographic Lens: Uncovering Florida’s Manufactured Landscapes,
Dinner + No Show, School of Art + Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Teaching Experience
2022–2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
Introduction to Humanities/HUM 1020
2021–2022
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Photography, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida
Black and White Film Photography/PGY 1401C
Digital Photography/PGY 1800C
Typography/GRA 2208
2018–2021
Instructor of Record, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Figure-Ground/PGY 2441C
Digital Imaging/DIG 2131C
Visual Literacy/PGY 2101C
Advanced Photography/PGY 4420C
Curatorial Experience
2025
Juror, Texas Landscape Photography Show: Natural, Human-Made, and Everything In Between,
The Eclectika at 711, Irving, Texas
2019
Curatorial Intern, Photography Department,
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, Florida
2018–2019
Curatorial Assistant, University Galleries,
University of Florida, Gainesville, FloridaCurator, Pop Microscopy,
Gary R. Libby Gallery, University of FloridaCurator, Photography Student exhibition,
Gary R. Libby Gallery, University of Florida
2018
Juror, Global Culture Photo Competition,
International Center, University of Florida
Professional Experience
2021–2022
Teaching Lab Specialist, Photography, Drawing & Painting,
School of Art and Art History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida