Myrto Papadopoulos’s artistic practice focuses on in-depth narratives that explore the diverse landscape of the ‘documentary’ genre.
Her work centers on extensive research, with a distinct emphasis on anthropological and sociological perspectives. She aims to critically examine and re-evaluate dominant historical narratives that have shaped historical consciousness and social perception. She explores how these narratives evolve and how contemporary perspectives that challenge or reassess historical events influence her creative practice.
Papadopoulos engages closely with her subjects, delving into both sociological issues and deeper existential and philosophical questions. Simultaneously, she investigates ethical concerns and human nature, exploring the relationship between place and people, gender dynamics, and the complexities of identity. By combining various narrative elements, including photography, sound, video, and archival materials, she seeks to create a multidimensional narrative framework that enhances both the expressive depth of her work and its interaction with the viewer, encouraging active interpretation.
Through this multifaceted approach, Myrto aims to challenge traditional boundaries between artist and viewer, creator and subject, and reality and imagination. She embraces ambiguity, promoting viewer participation in the interpretative process. Her work fosters a dialogue between past and present, inviting the audience to reflect on and reconsider historical narratives in the context of contemporary challenges.
Originally from Athens, Greece, Papadopoulos studied painting and photography at the School of Visual and Applied Arts (AUTH) in Thessaloniki. In 2006, she pursued a degree in documentary photography at the International Center of Photography in New York and was granted a scholarship.
Over the course of her career, Papadopoulos has worked with high-profile organizations and media outlets including Dior, National Geographic, Smithsonian, The New York Times, and Time Magazine, among others.
She was an IMEDD fellow in 2019 and 2021, supported by the Niarchos Foundation, and has been nominated for the Prix Pictet, the Magnum Foundation Grant, and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
/ Selected exhibitions:
2024 – L’Abbaye Royale de l’Epau – “Spirits Unseen” – France
2024 – MOMus Thessaloniki Museum of Photography – “HerStories” Photographic Practices 1974-2024
2024 – Art Residency Photoxenia – Mamidakis Foundation – Crete, Greece
2023 – The Benaki Museum – “Spirits Unseen” – Solo, Athens, Greece
2023 – PHmuseum Days 2023 – with work from Eleu sis – Bologna, Italy
2023 – National Museum of Modern Art EMST – “Foodprint” exhibition, Athens, Greece
2023 – “Rites of Passage”, Recontres de la Jeune Photographie Internationale, Niort, France
2023 – The Benaki Museum – Mystery 29 “The Raw Museum” – Eleusis Cultural Capital of Europe, Greece
2022 – Athens Photo Festival – official section, The Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece
2020 – Athens Photo Festival – curator of “The Journal Exhibition”, The Benaki Museum.
2019 – Athens Photo Festival – official section, The Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece
2019 – PHotoESPAÑA, Madrid – OFFLAND, “Spirits Unseen” official section, Madrid, Spain
2018 – TBLISI Photo Festival, Tbilisi, Georgia
2016 – The Benaki Museum – People On The Move, Athens, Greece
2016 – MedPhoto Festival, Crete, Greece
2015 – Tositsa Foundation, Athens – Solo exhibition, Athens, Greece
2015 – Lishui Photography Festival, China
2014 – EU Parliament – Solo exhibition, Bruxelles, Belgium
2013 – Flash Forward Exhibition, Toronto & Washington DC
2011 – Athens Photo Festival – Solo exhibition, Athens, Greece
2011 – Dumbo Arts Festival – New York
2010 – LOOK3 Between Festival, Virginia, USA
2010 – Cedefop Photo Museum International Award – Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Greece
2010 – DUMBO Arts Festival, New York, USA
2009 – Festival Circulation(s) – Festival de la Jeune Photographie Européenne, Paris, France
2009 – Musée du Quai Branly
/ Selected lecturer:
2024 – Athens Photo Festival 2024 / Head of LAB “Sculpting Narratives” alongside Alexandra Rose Howland & Cloé Kerhoas Özmen
2015 – Present – Hellenic Centre for Photography, Athens, Greece
2024 – Guest Lecturer at the photo department of The Athens School of Fine Arts, ASFA, Athens, Greece
2024 – Key Lecturer and Head of Laboratory “Mystery 65 Reframe Elefsina” & Eleusis Culture Capital of Europe 2023, Elefsina, Greece
2023 – Guest Lecturer for Princeton University Global Seminar program, Athens, Greece
2023 – National Museum of Modern Art, EMST – The Footprint Project, Athens, Greece
2023 – The Home Project – The Foodprint Project, Athens, Greece
2023 – 6 x 6 Photographic Center, Limassol, Cyprus
2018 – British Council & Unicef – Visual Narratives & The refugee crisis
2017 – Arcadia University – On Journalism & Visual Narratives
2016 – Positive Voice & AMAKA – The Attendants & The Reflower Project
2016- Mercy Corps -Visual Narratives & the Refugee Crisis
2015 Save the Children – Visual Narratives & the Refugee Crisis
/ Selected speaker:
2023 – TedNTUA, Athens
2023 – IRIDA VISIONS, Athens
2023 – IRIDA VISIONS /Moria, Athens
2019 -Athens Photo Festival, Athens
2018 -International Documentary Festival, Thessaloniki
2016 – Humanity in Action, Athens
2014 -Tedx Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
2014 – EU Parliament , Brussels
/ Selected interviews: television /radio & print
2023 – Mataroa Magazine
2023 – Greek National Public Radio 2023 – Simio Art
2023 – Messy Ethics in Human Rights Work by UBC /
2022 – ERT National Broadcast Television “SYN GINAIXI” Documentary series on female profiles
2022 – Collective Eye – Podcast
2018 – Greek National Public Radio – DOC on Air “The New Plastic Road”
2018 – ERT National Broadcast Television -TEKMHRIA ELLINISMOU “The New Plastic Road
2018 – National Geographic / Redefining Gender Roles / In the early stages of “Spirits Unseen”
2017 – National Geographic / Inside the Harrowing Journeys of Refugee Mothers
2017 – SPJ International
2016 – VICE / an interview on The Attendants
2015 – DIE ZEIT
Other Greek media outlets: EL Culture, Ta Nea, Kathimerini, K Magazine, To Vima Magazine, Enet, CLOSE UP Magazine