Maya Meshel is an Israel-based documentary photographer and photojournalist. Driven by social, human-interest, and conflict-driven narratives, her work captures raw human details within broader global events, focusing on individuals in crisis, refugees fleeing war zones, and those who have chosen unconventional paths. She operates under the premise that a photograph of the right person, at the right moment, can shift perspectives and make it harder to look away.
Her work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at Eden Gallery in SoHo, New York and Miami, as well as in prominent museum exhibitions worldwide, including the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and the annual finalists' exhibition in Dresden, Germany. Her long-term documentary series The Girls of Maoz Esther won third place at Local Testimony, and her series Reality Plays Along earned widespread recognition and an official selection by All About Photo.
Selected Highlights
Solo Exhibitions
2024 | Women's Contribution to the War, Eden Gallery, SoHo, New York & Miami, USA (Curated by Noa Rabinowitz)
2021 | On the Run, UJA-Federation of New York Gallery, New York, USA
Selected Group & Museum Exhibitions
2026 | Escapism, PORTRAITS – Hellerau Photography Award, Motorenhalle Gallery, Dresden, Germany (Curated by Daniel Blochwitz)
2026 | International Winners Exhibition, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA), Florida, USA
2025 | Local Testimony 2025, Muza – Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel (Curated by Ilia Yefimovich)
Awards & International Recognition
2026 | Two-time Finalist (Documentary & Wedding categories), Siena International Photography Awards, Italy
2026 | Finalist, PORTRAITS – Hellerau Photography Award, Germany
2025 | 1st Place (Documentary/Photojournalism), FMoPA International Photography Competition, USA
2025 | 3rd Place (Series), Local Testimony 2025, Israel
2026 | Official Selection, All About Photo (AAP) Magazine Issue #59: Shapes (Printed Portfolio Feature)
Photo by Hadas Ruso