Sarah Blesener (they/she) is an Emmy-nominated visual journalist based in New York City whose work focuses on survivor’s testimonies in the aftermath of gendered violence, abuses of power, and sexual assault. Her approach works with anonymous portraiture and collaborative storytelling methods. Alongside photographs, Sarah uses archival imagery, mixed media, poetry, and painting. Sarah also works as an educator, centering their practice on poetics, process and ethics. They are currently a photo editor at the Wall Street Journal.
Their long-form project, Beckon Us From Home (2017-2023), which explored collective identity and ideology amongst youth in the United States and Russia, received the Alexia Foundation grant and the Catchlight fellowship in 2017. It was also supported by the Eugene Smith Fellowship in 2018. In 2019, Beckon Us From Home received a first place prize in the Long-Term Project category of World Press Photo.
As a visual journalist, they intentionally bring a trauma informed approach to their visual practice. They have taken trauma reporting courses through the Poynter Center, ACOS Alliance, and the DART Center / International Committee of the Red Cross. They are committed to slow journalism.
Their personal work looks for ruptures and disruptions in collective memory, with a focus on psychoanalysis, abjection, and the limitations of the body using archival images, mixed media, poetry, painting and sculpture.
In 2023, they co-founded Tacet Eye, an educational community focused on workshops and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching. They are also an educator at the International Center of Photography.
email: contact@sarah-blesener.com
phone: USA (+1) 651 - 373 - 9709
current location: Brooklyn, New York
languages: English, German, Russian, Spanish
instagram: @sarahblesener
2024 - Forensic Architecture, Brooklyn Institute of Social Research
2024 - Dreams and Dreaming: Philosophy, Psychology and the Unconscious, Brooklyn Institute of Social Research
2024 - Spanish Language Studies: Cervantes Institute, New York, NY, USA
2024 - Artistic Realism: From Representation to Revolution, Brooklyn Institute of Social Research
2024 - German Language Sudies: Goethe Institute, New York, NY, USA
2023 - Silence: Art, Literature and Philosophy, Brooklyn Institute of Social Research
2023 - Writing the Ephemeral, Jordan Kisner, Pioneer Works, New York
2023 - ACOS Alliance Annual Safety Coordination Meeting: Psychological Safety, Ford Foundation, New York, NY
2023 - Introduction to Trauma, Brooklyn Institute of Social Research
2023 - Psychological First Aid, Johns Hopkins University
2022 - Covering LGBTQ+ Communities, the Poynter Center
2022 - Trauma Informed Approaches to Journalism, the Poynter Center
2022 - Trauma Awareness for Journalists, the DART Center & the International Committee of the Red Cross
2021 - Russian Language Studies: Middlebury Language School, VT, USA
2020 - French Language Studies: Alliance Française, New York, NY, USA
2020 - Spanish Language Studies: Cervantes Institute, New York, NY, USA
2019 - Philosophy and Critical Theory: The Brooklyn Institute of Social Research, NY, USA
2019 - German Language Studies: Goethe Institute, New York, NY, USA
2019 - German Language Studies: Goethe Institute, Munich, Germany
2018 - Photobook workshop with Teun van der Heijden and Sandra van der Doelen, Rome, Italy
2017 - New York Times Portfolio Review
2017 - Eddie Adams Workshop XXX, New York Times award
2017 - Teaching Assistant for the Magnum Foundation Fellowship with Fred Ritchin and Bob Sacha
2017 - Teaching Assistant for Andrew Lichtenstein, Documentary Seminar, International Center of Photography, New York, USA
2016 - Reporting Safely in Crisis Zones: DART Center, Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY, USA
2015 - Visual Journalism and Documentary Practice: International Center of Photography, New York, NY, USA
2012 - Russian Language Studies: Bookvar Russian Language Academy, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2012 - Bachelor of Arts: Youth Development and International Studies, Minneapolis, MN, USA
EDUCATOR
2024 - Guest Speaker, Photojournalism, University of Berkeley, California
2024 - Tacet Eye Workshop, Long Form Project Development
2023 - Looking In: The Conversation Between Our Images and Ourselves, International Center of Photography, NY
2023 - Tacet Eye Workshop, Long Form Project Development
2022 - Guest Lecture at Columbia University for Nina Berman
2022 - Advisor, Master Thesis, Vanessa Harper, Columbia University
2021 - Co-instructor with Brian Frank, Long-term Project Development, Photography Workshop, Guerneville, CA
2021 - Co-instructor with Brian Frank, Documentary Practice and Personal Project Development: Intermediate, Social Documentary Network
2020 - Artist Talk - COVID New York, Five ICP Alumni, International Center of Photography, NYC
2020 - Co-instructor with Brian Frank, Long-term Project Development, Photography Workshop, Guerneville, CA
2020 - Guest Lecture Series at Cochise College
2019 - Artist Talk at Best Buy Creative Conference, Minneapolis, MN
2019 - Artist Talk at MANA Contemporary, NJ
2019 - Guest Lecture at the International Center of Photography, NYC
2018 - Guest Speaker at Oxford High School, CT
2018 - Artist Lecture at the International Center of Photography, NYC
2018 - Panel Talk with PDN’s 30 at Photoville, NYC
2018 - Panel Talk with CatchLight at Photoville, NYC
2018 - Artist Lecture at Education Day for Photoville, NYC
2018 - Guest Speaker for Fred Ritchin, Photography and Human Rights, International Center of Photography, NYC
2018 - Artist Lecture at Dokfestivalen, Fredrikstad, Norway
2018 - Artist Lecture at Scandinavian Photo, Oslo, Norway
2018 - Artist Lecture at United Nations International School, New York, NY
2017 - Guest Speaker on KUT’s Texas Standard with California Sunday Magazine / CIR with Reveal
2017 - Artist Lecture at Pratt Institute, New York, NY
2017 - Artist Lecture at California College of the Arts, CatchLight Fellowship, San Francisco, CA
2017 - Artist Lecture at The New School, New York, NY
2017 - Artist Lecture at Gallup High School, New Mexico
2017 - Artist Lecture for Documentary Matters, SDN, Belmont, MA
2016 - Artist Lecture, Open Show NYC, Bronx Documentary Center, NYC
2016 – Artist Lecture at the University of Northwestern, Saint Paul, MN
2016 – Panel Talk, “Photographing Politics: Campaigns, Protests, Demonstrations” International Center of Photography Museum, New York City, NYC
2016 – Artist Lecture at the Bronx Documentary Center, New York City, NY
AWARDS / GRANTS
2024 Emmy Nomination, News Feature: Serious Feature - Reporting, Videography, Photography.
2023 LensCulture Portrait Awards 2023, Juror’s Pick
2021 Kathryn Davis Fellow for Peace
2020 Recipient of the Emergency Fund for Journalists from the National Geographic Society
2020 Commission from the International Center of Photography, COVID-19 Personal Project
2019 Featured for Apple’s Year in Review - Female Photographers
2019 World Press Photo Award - 1st Place - Long Term Project Category
2018 Eugene Smith Fellowship recipient
2018 Adobe Rising Star of Photography - Adobe Lightroom
2018 Magenta Flash Forward Emerging Photographer
2018 PDN Photo Annual Winner - Documentary Category
2018 Selected Winner for American Photography 34
2018 Head On Photo Festival Portrait Prize - Semi-Finalist
2018 Zeiss Photography Award - Shortlist
2018 PDN's 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch
2018 IWPA - Shortlisted
2018 Gomma Grant - Shortlisted
2018 30 under 30 Women Photographers of 2018 selected by Photo Boite, Artpil
2017 TIME's Top 100 Photos of the Year
2017 Visura Grant for Outstanding Personal Project - Honorable Mention
2017 PH Museum Women Photographers Grant - New Generation Honorable Mention
2017 Magenta Flash Forward Emerging Photographer
2017 CatchLight Fellowship Recipient
2017 Alexia Professional Grant Recipient
2017 Portrait Award, Student Spotlight, LensCulture
2017 Selected Winner for American Photography 33
2017 Nominee for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass 2017
2017 POYi Issue Reporting Picture Story, Award of Excellence
2017 Social Documentary Network, First Place Grant Prize
2016 Emerging Talent Award, LensCulture
2016 Emerging Photographer Award, PDN
2016 Visura Photojournalism Grant Honorable Mention
2016 Alexia Student Grant Award of Excellence
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 “The Sun as it Rips Away” at Blink Studio, Greenpoint, NYC
2022 “Ukrainian Female Soldiers” at Anastasia Photo Gallery, NYC
2021 “Upper East Side” for 1014 Museum, Manhattan, New York
2019 “Beckon Us From Home” at MANA Contemporary, NJ
2018 “Beckon Us From Home” at Anastasia Photo Gallery, NYC
EXHIBITIONS
2024 “The Sun as it Rips Away” for Zoom Photo Festival, Saguenay, Canada
2023 “The Sun as it Rips Away” for PhEST festival, Being Human - Monopoli, Italy
2023 “Beckon Us From Home” for IMP Festival Padova, Italy
2023, “Beckon Us From Home” and “Toy Soldiers” for ACAMPA, Madrid, Spain
2023 “Toy Soldiers” for Eyes on the World, Bridge Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2022 “Beckon Us From Home” for Biennale Della Fotografia Femminile, Mantua, Italy
2021 “Toy Soldiers” for Daegu Photo Biennale, South Korea
2020 “Slow as Summer is, Still” for COVID New York at the International Center of Photography, New York, NY
2020 “Beckon Us From Home” for Estação-Imagem Photo Festival, Portugal
2019 “Haven” for the Alexia Foundation, at Photoville, NY
2019 “Beckon Us From Home” at Pingyao International Photography Festival, China - with the Alexia Foundation
2019 “Beckon Us From Home” for World Press Photo Tour
2018 30 Under 30 Women Photographers, Galerie Claude Samuel, Paris, France
2018 "Beckon Us From Home" for "Focal Points: An Exhibition of the CatchLight 2017 Fellows" at Photoville, New York, NY
2018 "Beckon Us From Home" for "Focal Points: An Exhibition of the CatchLight 2017 Fellows" at SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA
2018 "Beckon Us From Home" for LUMIX Festival For Young Photojournalism.
2017 "Winter Passage" for In Search of Lost Time, International Center of Photography, NY
2017 "Right to Fight" for Oberstdorfer Fotogipfel, Oberstdorf, Germany
2017 "Toy Soldiers" for Zimmerli Art Museum, "Partisan Views and Public Opinion," New Brunswick, NJ
2017 "Toy Soldiers" for IPP 2017, Fondo Malerba per la Fotografia, Milan, Italy
2016 "Borodino" for Annenberg Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2016 "Haven" for Another Kind of Paradise, International Center of Photography, New York, NY
2016 "Haven" for Auckland Festival of Photography, Auckland, New Zealand
2016 "Toy Soldiers" for Fotograf Vakfi, Istanbul, Turkey
EDITORIAL CLIENTS
The New Yorker, National Geographic, New York Times, TIME Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Atlantic, Telegraph Magazine, California Sunday Magazine, NPR, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, The Guardian, New Republic, ABC, Wired, Reveal: Center for Investigative Reporting, New York Magazine, Politico Magazine, Democracy Now, Greenpeace, VICE, Der Spiegel, Zeit, Amnesty International, De Morgen, Dagens Naerings, Tages-Anzeiger, Men's Journal, Virginia Quarterly Review, American Scholar, and others.
COMMERCIAL CLIENTS
Apple, Adobe, Best Buy, Babbel, WeWork, Industrious, Godiva, Truly Hard Seltzer
SELECTED INTERVIEWS / REVIEWS
B&H Photography Podcast, “Covering COVID-19, A Follow-Up Conversation with Desiree Rios and Sarah Blesener, November 2020.
Stephen Frailey, “Interview with Sarah Blesener, May 2020” Dear Dave Magazine, May 2020.
John Harris and Cory Rice, “Sarah Blesener: What is Photography?" B&H Photo, July 2019.
Brienne Walsh and Jacqui Palumbo, “20 Rising Female Photojournalists,” Artsy, May 2019.
Laurence Butet-Roch, “Q&A with Sarah Blesener,” Magenta Foundation, March 2019.
Terry Sullivan, “Taking Time with the Next Generation,” Digital Photo Pro, February 2019.
Ludmila Leiva, “What I Wish I’d Known Before I Went Freelance,” Refinery 29, January 2019.
Guest Speaker for Adorama’s Podcast, Episode 5, Photoville.
Libby Peterson, “In Sarah Blesener’s Photographs, Youth Patriotism in America and Russia Bear a Striking Resemblance,” Artsy, September 2018.
Lex Van den Berghe, “Introducing the 2018 Adobe Rising Stars of Photography,” Adobe, August 2018.
Terry Sullivan, “2 Pro Photographers Discuss Capturing Their Vision of the World,” PC Magazine, August 2018.
Michael Chovan-Dalton, Guest on the Real Photo Show podcast, August 2018.
Sarah Hotchkiss, “Other Americas Appear in SF Camerawork’s ‘Focal Points’" KQED, May 2018.
Inge Morath Magazine, Feature, April 2018.
Mark Alice Durant, "Sarah Blesener: Conversations," Saint Lucy, September 2017.
Ryan Bell, "Photographer Who Captured Youth Patriotism in Russia Turns Lens on Trump's America,"Columbia Journalism Review, June 2017.
Byard Duncan, "Meet Sarah Blesener, Our New Photography Fellow," Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, April 2017.
Lena Kovalchuk, "Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Children: Russian Children's Military-Patriotic Camps," Bird in Flight, October 2017.
Dustina Sherbina, "ICP Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Blesener," The International Center of Photography, December 2016.
Alexia Foundation, "Interview with Sarah Blesener on Documenting Adolescence and Belonging," The Alexia Foundation, October 2016.