Photo: Mathilde Tijen Hansen
Tanya Sharapova is a photographer and visual artist, born in Moscow. In 2019, Tanya was granted an artist visa for Germany, which allowed her to relocate to Berlin. Sharapova holds a degree from a technical university but shifted her focus to photography during her studies. While still a student, she began working in various publications and spent ten years in photo editing, eventually becoming a senior photo editor at Condé Nast Russia. After leaving Condé Nast, she spent three years working as a travel photographer and writer for publications such as National Geographic Russia, Condé Nast Traveler Russia, and others.
In 2021, she began her studies at the Ostkreuz School of Photography in Berlin and graduated in 2024 from Irina Ruppert’s class with her project Kolsky, supported by the VG Bild-Kunst/Kulturwerk Foundation Grant.
Tanya’s work explores the complex relationships between individuals and society, focusing on themes of isolation, displacement, belonging, collective memory, and uncertainty. Her recent projects examine life in Russia and Germany.
AWARDS
2024 - Innovate Grant, Winner
2024 - Revela’T Festival, 1st prize Winner
2024 - Emerging Photographer Award DGPh - Nominated
2024 - KOLGA Tbilisi Photo, Finalist
2024 - Athens Photo Festival, Finalist
2024 - Otto-Steinert Preis, DGPh Förderpreis für Fotografie - Finalist
2023 - VG Bild-Kunst / Kulturwerk Foundation Grant - Winner
2023 - Belfast Photo Festival - Shortlisted
2023 - Revela'T Festival - Finalist
2022 - Cortona On The Move | PhMuseum 2022 Photography Grant
2021 - OpenWalls Arles - Winner
2020 - Pandemic Healing grant, Berlin- Winner
EXHIBITIONS
Upcoming: March 2025 - Cadavre Exquis, European Month of Photography, DE
Upcoming: March 2025 - “Meet Me Halfway”, European Month of Photography, DE
Upcoming: May 2025 - Revela’T Festival, ESP
2024 - "Deadly matters", Friedhöfe Friedenstraße, Berlin, DE
2024 - KOLGA Tbilisi Photo, Tbilisi, GE
2024 - Jahrgang ACHTZEHN, Konnekt Berlin, DE
2023 - "East from Where", Studio Hanniball, Berlin, DE
2023 - "Entlang der Oder", Schloss Neuhardenberg, DE
2023 - "Entlang der Oder", Pader Kultour for Kulturamt Paderborn, DE
2023 - "Drängende Gegenwart", European Month of Photography Berlin, DE
2022 - "Entlang der Oder", Kurpark Bad Saarow, DE
2022 - "Strangers", Ori Galerie, Berlin, DE
2022 - "Ukraine Moments", House of Lucie Gallery, Budapest, HU
2021 - "Then & Now", OpenWalls Arles, Galerie Huit, FR
EDUCATION
2021- 2024 - Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin, DE
2022 - Noor–Nikon Advanced Storytelling Workshop, Düsseldorf, DE
2022 - International Summer Academy for Art und Design Pentiment, Hamburg, DE
2021 - Filmworkshop „Portrait of a Protagonist" by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, Berlin, DE
2021 - Canon Student Program of Visa Pour L'Image (Online)
2019 - ASX+Void Laboratory with Mark Power in Athens, GR
In 2021, she began her studies at the Ostkreuz School of Photography in Berlin and graduated in 2024 from Irina Ruppert’s class with her project Kolsky, supported by the VG Bild-Kunst/Kulturwerk Foundation Grant.
Tanya’s work explores the complex relationships between individuals and society, focusing on themes of isolation, displacement, belonging, collective memory, and uncertainty. Her recent projects examine life in Russia and Germany.
AWARDS
2024 - Innovate Grant, Winner
2024 - Revela’T Festival, 1st prize Winner
2024 - Emerging Photographer Award DGPh - Nominated
2024 - KOLGA Tbilisi Photo, Finalist
2024 - Athens Photo Festival, Finalist
2024 - Otto-Steinert Preis, DGPh Förderpreis für Fotografie - Finalist
2023 - VG Bild-Kunst / Kulturwerk Foundation Grant - Winner
2023 - Belfast Photo Festival - Shortlisted
2023 - Revela'T Festival - Finalist
2022 - Cortona On The Move | PhMuseum 2022 Photography Grant
2021 - OpenWalls Arles - Winner
2020 - Pandemic Healing grant, Berlin- Winner
EXHIBITIONS
Upcoming: March 2025 - Cadavre Exquis, European Month of Photography, DE
Upcoming: March 2025 - “Meet Me Halfway”, European Month of Photography, DE
Upcoming: May 2025 - Revela’T Festival, ESP
2024 - "Deadly matters", Friedhöfe Friedenstraße, Berlin, DE
2024 - KOLGA Tbilisi Photo, Tbilisi, GE
2024 - Jahrgang ACHTZEHN, Konnekt Berlin, DE
2023 - "East from Where", Studio Hanniball, Berlin, DE
2023 - "Entlang der Oder", Schloss Neuhardenberg, DE
2023 - "Entlang der Oder", Pader Kultour for Kulturamt Paderborn, DE
2023 - "Drängende Gegenwart", European Month of Photography Berlin, DE
2022 - "Entlang der Oder", Kurpark Bad Saarow, DE
2022 - "Strangers", Ori Galerie, Berlin, DE
2022 - "Ukraine Moments", House of Lucie Gallery, Budapest, HU
2021 - "Then & Now", OpenWalls Arles, Galerie Huit, FR
EDUCATION
2021- 2024 - Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie, Berlin, DE
2022 - Noor–Nikon Advanced Storytelling Workshop, Düsseldorf, DE
2022 - International Summer Academy for Art und Design Pentiment, Hamburg, DE
2021 - Filmworkshop „Portrait of a Protagonist" by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, Berlin, DE
2021 - Canon Student Program of Visa Pour L'Image (Online)
2019 - ASX+Void Laboratory with Mark Power in Athens, GR