Elahe Zivardar

Elahe Zivardar is an award-winning Iranian American artist, architectural designer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker who currently lives in Arizona, United States. Zivardar fled Iran in 2013 and attempted to seek asylum in Australia, but was instead imprisoned on the remote Pacific island the Republic of Nauru until 2019, when she was granted refugee status by the United States. During her years of imprisonment in Nauru, she returned to her activist roots and began using photos and video to document and expose the horrific treatment and conditions endured by refugees imprisoned offshore. Using diverse mediums including painting, photography, and documentary filmmaking, Zivardar seeks to depict and raise awareness about the powerful stakeholders who benefit from the victimization and detention of refugees. In addition, Zivardar has served as advisor to international refugee rights campaigns and organizations in Australia, the UK, and the US.