Meet Mahnoor Nasir Khan | Photographer
We had the good fortune of connecting with Mahnoor Nasir Khan and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mahnoor Nasir, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I grew up in a world where silence often echoed louder than words — where stories were left untold and pain was buried beneath tradition. Photography became my way of giving form to that silence. It wasn’t just a creative calling; it was a necessity. I pursued this path because I believe art can disrupt, document, and heal all at once. Through my work, I seek to illuminate the nuanced lives of women and marginalized communities, especially from South Asia and the diaspora. I don’t just capture moments — I create visual evidence of what’s often hidden, erased, or overlooked. That purpose drives everything I do.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artistic practice has always been an act of resistance — a way to navigate memory, grief, and longing when words fall short. I work primarily with photography and time-based media, often using analog processes, distortion, and layering to question how identity is formed, inherited, or erased — especially within South Asian and diasporic contexts.
Projects like What They Hide, Cheekh, and Goonj were born from a place of deep personal reckoning. They allowed me to confront the silences I was raised within and speak to the many selves we carry — the ones we show and the ones we bury.
Relocating to the U.S. to further my practice brought challenges: unfamiliar systems, cultural shifts, and the task of carving space for quieter, emotionally driven work in a fast-moving industry. But those experiences have shaped the kind of artist I’ve become. They’ve taught me to trust stillness, protect my voice, and create from a place of care and clarity.
What sets my work apart is its emotional intimacy. It doesn’t seek to explain — it invites reflection. I’m proud that it’s been recognized by platforms like Vogue, but more than that, I’m proud when someone sees themselves in it.
At the heart of everything I create is a desire to give shape to the invisible — to hold space for complexity, and to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people who have shaped my journey, but I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to the women in my life — the ones who raised me, stood beside me, and taught me how to fight gently but fiercely. My mother, in particular, instilled in me the courage to speak even when my voice trembled.
I also want to acknowledge the women I photograph — their vulnerability, resilience, and truth have influenced me more than any textbook or workshop. Their stories constantly remind me why this work matters.
Additionally, I owe a profound debt of gratitude to my mentor and professor, Allison Rufrano. Her guidance and unwavering support encouraged me to explore deeply personal themes like identity, grief, and duality in my work. Her own artistic presence continues to inspire the way I engage with the medium of photography.
And lastly, I’d like to recognize the artists who came before me, especially South Asian women photographers and image-makers who created space where none existed. Their legacy is the reason I’m able to do this work today — and the reason I feel a responsibility to keep the door open for others.
Being recognized in spaces like Vogue Italia and featured in international exhibitions has been deeply meaningful, but none of it would have happened without the people who saw something in me early on. Their belief gave me the confidence to treat my work as not just creative, but vital — especially as I continue building my career in the U.S. as an artist and storyteller.
Website: https://www.mahnoorkhan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noormnkphoto?igsh=MTZsdDYzM2UxMG0waw==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Sn9me86a/
Other: https://www.artsy.net/artist/mahnoor-nasir-khan
Image Credits
Mahnoor Nasir Khan
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