Muhammed Muheisen is an internationally acclaimed, world-renowned photographer. A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, a National Geographic photojournalist and Explorer, founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation, Global Ambassador for Jordan Tourism Board and Canon.
“Muhammed Muheisen: Finding the Light,” a captivating and eye-opening episode of National Geographic documentary series “PHOTOGRAPHER”, is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Finding the Light will premier on National Geographic and Apple TV on April 1. With “Finding the Light,” viewers will be immersed in the world of the founder and chairman of Everyday Refugees Foundation and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen.
Muheisen is a Jordanian national who was born in Jerusalem in 1981, graduated with a B.A. degree in journalism and political science. Since 2001 he has documented major events around the world, in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States of America. For over a decade and a half he has been documenting the refugee crises around the world.
In 2015, Muheisen established the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation based in Amsterdam.
The foundation’s mission is to document, educate, help and empower refugees, local communities and internally displaced people by conflict, poverty, discrimination and natural disasters in different parts of the world.
Muheisen is a member of the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award advisory committee at the International Women Media Foundation, in Washington D.C. and a member of the Advisory Panel of the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant.
Muheisen served as a jury member, among others, the 2013 Visa D’Or for Visa pour L’Image in Perpignan, France, the 2015 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the 2016 Picture of the Year International in Columbia, Missouri, USA, the 2017 LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards, the 2019 FotoEvidence Book Award, the 2019 International Film festival in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019 the main judge of the National Geographic Abu Dhabi contest “Moments” as well a judge of National Geographic’s 100 Million Instagram Contest. In 2020 a nominator for the “Best Press Photo in Government” for the International Government Communication Award in Sharjah, UAE, in 2020 the main judge of the National Geographic Abu Dhabi contest “Moments”.
In 2021 a judge in the annual competition AKTASHIF Program in Dubai, UAE, a judge for the Estação Imagem Award in Coimbra, Portugal and the main judge for Miso Association’s photo contest “Untold Stories” in Brescia, Italy. A judge of the Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Awards in Sharjah, UAE, and a judge of Canon’s Moments that Matters Competition-EXPO Dubai. In 2022 and 2023 Muheisen served as a jury member for the Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Awards and International Photography and Film Awards for Xposure in Sharjah, UAE. In June 2023 Muheisen served as a jury member for the United Nations SDG Action Awards.
Among other exhibitions, a collection from a decade of his work about “Life in War” was exhibited in the French photo festival Visa pour L’Image in Perpignan. His work about refugees was exhibited at Festival des Libertes in Brussels, Belgium, his photographs about displaced people was exhibited at THE FENCE in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Boston and Houston, USA, “Faces of War” was displayed at MidExpo in Moscow, Russia, also a selection of his work “Pursuit of Happiness” was exhibited at the Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap, Cambodia and for two-year in a row, his work “Victims of War” and “Faces of Sharjah” was exhibited at Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, UAE. In October 2018, his exhibition “Light on the Move” was displayed at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, Greece with an official opening ceremony. In March 2019 “Light on the Move” was on display during the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. In September 2019, a selection of his images was displayed by the UNDP at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York at Photoville.
In November 2020 his photo exhibition “Lest We Forget” organized by the Jordanian Embassy in Japan was displayed at the JICA Global Plaza in Tokyo and in February 2021 “Lest We Forget” traveled to Noshiro City. From 10 – 13 February 2021, his photo exhibition “Voices” was displayed at the Expo Centre in Sharjah, UAE, during Xposure International Photography Festival. Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Voices” traveled from Sharjah, UAE, to Coimbra, Portugal and was displayed at Museo Municipal Coimbra from 29 May until 25 July 2021. His photo exhibition “Untold Stories” was on display from 13 – 26 November 2021 at Image Academy Gallery in Brescia, Italy, organized by Miso Association. Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Life and War” was displayed at Sharjah Expo Center during Xposure International Photography Festival from Feb. 9 – Feb. 15, 2022, in Sharjah, UAE, as well, at GalleryX at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah, UAE from April 2 – April 30, 2022. Since June 2021, Muheisen’s photo exhibition “Voices” has been traveling in Portugal, from Coimbra to Porto and Valongo and from September 17th until October 22nd, 2022, “Voices” was on display at Galeria de Arte do Convento do Espírito Santo in Loulé, Portugal.
In August 2022, for the first time in Jordan, Muheisen led the “Canon Young People Programme”. Thirty students, 15 Jordanians and 15 refugees between the age of 12-18 years were selected to take part in this six week program. To celebrate their achievements, a ceremony was held where HRH Princess Alia Bint Hussein and Muhammed Muheisen presented each student with a certificate of completion and a printed portfolio of their work.
In May 2023, to honour his late friend Anja Niedringhaus, Muheisen curated her exhibition the “The Power of Facts” for the official opening of Forum Anja Niedringhaus in Höxter, Germany.
In June, Muheisen received the 2023 National Geographic Wayfinder Award, dedicated to individuals who are pushing the boundaries of science, exploration, education and storytelling to transform our world. During the UN SDG Action Award Ceremony in Rome, Italy, in July 2023 Muheisen took the stage to present an Honourable Mention to Sabrina Dhowre Elba and Idris Elba.
In December 2023, the photo exhibition “Bearing Witness” by Muhammed Muheisen and Howard G. Buffett was displayed in Athens, Greece, and in March 2024 the exhibition was displayed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in June the exhibition will travel to The Hague.
“Bearing Witness” photo exhibition is set to be displayed in several European capitals.
More about Muhammed Muheisen on his social media platforms:
We document, educate, help and empower refugees, local communities and people displaced internally by war, natural disasters, discrimination and poverty.
Our goal is to raise public awareness by documenting and sharing their stories with the world. Through our website and social media platforms, we tell hundreds of untold stories, raising the voice of thousands of unheard voices, spreading awareness to millions of people around the world. Learn more about Everyday Refugees Foundation here: www.everydayrefugees.org
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