About Me

Maya Hed was born and raised in Los Angeles and moved to Israel in the late 90s, where she studied at the Kiryat Ono College of Photography. Maya specializes in portraiture, especially series of photographs captured over time. She uses natural lighting to capture genuine, raw emotion, and tell the subject’s story through their portrait.

Maya has presented three solo exhibitions at prestigious venues including the Israeli Opera, Hava Rosenberg Gallery, and The Scots Hotel. Her work has also been featured in ten group exhibitions worldwide. Maya's artistic achievements include multiple awards from prominent competitions such as IPA, PX3, BIFA, TIFA, LICC and others.

In addition to her photography, Maya has extensive experience in filmmaking and works as a freelance documentarian based in Tel Aviv, blending her passion for storytelling with her artistic vision.

Maya is available for bookings in Israel and worldwide.

Solo Exhibitions

  • Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage, Or-Akiva Protest, September 2023.
  • A Momentary Lapse of Reason: The Scots Hotel, Tiberius, September 2022 March 2023.
  • A Momentary Lapse of Reason: The Israeli Opera, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, November-December , 2011.
  • A Momentary Lapse of Reason: The Hava Rosenberg Gallery, Kfar Shmaryahu, May- June, 2011.

Group Exhibitions

  • Paris Photo Prize Exhibition, 24b Gallery, Paris, France, November 7th-12th, 2023. Gold Award Winner in Press/ Politics Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage
  • The IPA Annual Best of Show Exhibition (Opening Night), Splashlight Studios, October 28th, 2023. 2nd Place Winner in Editorial / Press/ Political Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage
  • Budapest International Foto Awards: House of Lucie. Gold Winner in Editorial /Political for Bring Them Home Now!
  • Tokyo International Foto Awards, Tokyo, Japan, Kashan and Budapest. Bronze Winner in Editorial /Political for Bring Them Home Now! and Silver Award Winner for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage.
  • Budapest International Foto Awards: House of Lucie, Silver Winner, Ephraim’s Repair Shop: Peace, Love, and Cars, 2022
  • Tokyo International Foto Awards, Tokyo, Japan, Kashan and Budapest, Silver Winner, Ephraim’s Repair Shop: Peace, Love, and Cars, 2022
  • Budapest International Foto Awards: House of Lucie, Bronze Winner, Welcome to Boris’ Express Shoe Repair Shop, 2021
  • PCK Group Exhibition: The Kiryat-Ono College of Photography, July-August 2008. Exhibition Curators: Noa Ben-Nun Melamed, Naomi Leshem.
  • 60th Anniversary of Israel’s Independence: The University of Basel and moving around, 2007. Exhibition Curator: Yoram Wienberg.
  • On The Warm Sand: The National Maritime Museum in Haifa. January 2007. Exhibition Curator: Avraham Eilat.

Awards

2024:

Won a Bronze Award from PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2023 in Press/ Politics for The Protests Where Heartbreak Meets Hope. https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2023/1-113199-23/

Won an Honorable Mention from PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2023 in Press/ Politics for Horrible 80 Days. https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2024/1-114308-24/

Won 3rd Place from IPA- International Photography Awards 2024 in  Editorial / Press/ Political https://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-1721961639-24

Won a Honorable Mention from  IPA- International Photography Awards 2024 in  Editorial / Press/ Political https://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-1686645562-24

2023:

Was included in the London International Creative Competition Short list in SHOOT for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage. https://licc.uk/winners/winner.php?id=124354

Was included in the London International Creative Competition Short List in SHOOT for Lev: The Endless Tick of The Timekeeper. https://licc.uk/winners/winner.php?id=124651

Was included in the London International Creative Competition Official Selection in SHOOT for Bring Them Home Now ! https://licc.uk/winners/winner.php?eid=2-33863-23

Was included in the London International Creative Competition Official Selection in SHOOT for Horrible 80 Days https://licc.uk/winners/winner.php?eid=2-34495-24

Was included in the London International Creative Competition Official Selection in SHOOT for Carmel and the Gummy Ice Cream https://licc.uk/winners/winner.php?eid=2-32812-23

Won a Silver Award from Tokyo International Foto Awards in Editorial/Political for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage. https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/social/2023/23-43140-23/

Won a Bronze Award from Tokyo International Foto Awards in Editorial/Political for Bring Them Home Now! https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/social/2023/23-44135-23/

Won a Gold Award from Budapest International Foto Awards in Editorial/Political for Bring Them Home Now! https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/social/2023/93-31452-23/1703528229/

Won a Honorable Mention from Budapest International Foto Awards in Editorial / Press/ Political for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage. https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/social/2023/93-29658-23/1703528229/

Won a Honorable Mention from Budapest International Foto Awards in People-Lifestyle for Lev: The Endless Tick of The Timekeeper. https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/social/2023/93-29546-23/1703528229/

Won a Honorable Mention in Editorial Photo Essay / Story from ND Awards for Lev: The Endless Tick of The Timekeeper. https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2023/professional/photo-essay-story/hm/18961/

Won 2nd Place in IPA- International Photography Awards 2023 in Editorial / Press/ Political for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage. https://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-1686642396-23

Won a Honorable Mention from IPA- International Photography in People / Lifestyle Awards for Lev: The Endless Tick of The Timekeeper. https://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-1686642255-23

Won a Gold Award from PX3 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2023 in Press/ Politics for Israel 2023: Our Year of Chaos, Resistance & Outrage. https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2023/1-113199-23/

2022:

2021: