Gulnara Samoilova (b.1964) is a Tatar-American photographer, artist, author, and the founder of Women Street Photographers.
In the ongoing series ‘Lost Family’ Gulnara creates complex and striking compositions using her own, larger scale, photographs and small photographs from her family albums. Using oilpaints, and without any attempt at photo realism, she connect the present and the past to covey an imagined “fantasy, dream like” story. Gulnara’s family members and the artist herself perform representations of themselves that cross temporal and spatial boundaries, connecting with each other within the compositional space.
Samoilova holds a certificate in creative practices from the International Center of Photography in New York City (1994) and a diploma in photography from the Moscow Polytechnic College (1987). Samoilova received national and international awards for her iconic photographs from September 11, 2001, including first prize in the World Press Photo. Her work is a part of major collections such as the Museum of the City of New York, The New York Public Library, New York Historical Society, and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
Samoilova lives and works in New York City.
