photographers

Alixandra Fazzina

Alixandra Fazzina (UK, 1974) focuses with her photography on under-reported conflicts and the often forgotten humanitarian consequences of war. Alixandra has an uncanny ability to work in the most difficult social and geographical environments and is recognized for her compassionate and empathetic approach towards the human condition, always fully aware of the bigger picture. Her photographs cut to the core but are never imposing with a luminous chiaroscuro aesthetic that is distinctly quiet, yet descriptive.

Studying Fine Art, she began her career as a war artist in Bosnia. Since then, she has worked independently as a photojournalist throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Her reportages have been widely published in the British and international press including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Observer, The Telegraph and The Independent as well as TIME, Newsweek, The New York Times and Stern. She works regularly with UN agencies and NGO’s to document their work and produce advocacy campaigns.

Alixandra worked over a period of two years to chronicle the exodus of migrants and refugees from Somalia to the Arabian Peninsula. The resulting book “A Million Shillings: Escape from Somalia” was published by Trolley (2010). The Arabic language version of the book was officially launched in Yemen by António Guterres; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2011).

For her work in Somalia, Alixandra was a finalist in the CARE Award for Humanitarian Reportage and the W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography in 2008. That same year, she was the recipient of the Vic Odden Award from the British Royal Photographic Society. “A Million Shillings: Escape from Somalia” was finalist for the POYi (Pictures of the Year International) Best Photography Book of the Year Award 2010.

In 2010 Alixandra was recognized as the winner of the highly prestigious UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for her striking coverage of the devastating human consequences of war and because of her fearless and tireless dedication to humanitarian photography throughout her career.

Her current new long-term project The Flowers of Afghanistan, documents the stories of Afghan children seeking refuge in Europe. The photographic investigation looks into the causes and effects of the increasing number of Afghan minors making the hazardous overland journey to apply for asylum in EU member states.

Alixandra is based in Islamabad, Pakistan.