I live in Graz and Längenfeld, Austria, and work mainly with photography.

My work often begins with something seemingly familiar or ordinary. I critically engage with existing images and narratives, always considering social, economic and ecological conditions.

In my books and exhibitions, I bring together photographs I make and material I find. Sometimes I also work with moving images and sculpture.

I'm part of What’s left of Photography and Freies Atelierhaus Schaumbad.

Instagram
office@eliasholzknecht.at
0043 664 123 6921

EDUCATION

2024 – 2026 MA Documentary Photography // University of South Wales // with Lisa Barnard 

2017 – 2023 BA Fotojournalismus und Dokumentarfotografie // Hochschule Hannover // with Prof. Anna Stemmler & Prof. Dr. Karen Fromm 

2020 – 2021 School of Arts KASK & Conservatory Ghent, Belgium, one-year Erasmus stay 



TEACHING

2025 – ongoing Lecturer at
BA Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography // Hochschule Hannover

PUBLICATION

"Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf" – The Eriskay Connection / NL
2024



EXHIBITIONS

2026 / Es werde Schnee – Die Berge Tirols / group
Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin, GER

2025 / Bezirk 05 / group
steirischer Herbst, Graz, AT 

2025 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf / solo
Micheldorf in Oberösterreich, AT 

2025 / Auf den Zweiten Blick – NS Zeit im Ötztal / solo
Ötztaler Museen, Längenfeld, AT 

2024 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf / group
Les Rencontres d‘Arles / FRA

2024 / Baumhäuser / solo
Heimatmuseum Tarrenz / AUT

2024 / Muskrat / group
Werkschau Schaumbad / AUT


2023 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf / group
Goethe Exil / Hannover / GER


2022 / Es werde Schnee / group
Wiesbadener Fototage / GER


2021 / Es werde Schnee / solo
Galerie im Glockhof / Lüneburg / GER


2021 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf / graduation show
KASK Gent / BE


2019 / Es werde Schnee /  screening
Chobi Mela Festival / Dhaka / BD


2018 / Josef / group
visa OFF / visa pour l’image Perpignan / FRA



TALKS

2025 / Ein Dorf, das Dorf, welches Dorf
Leipzig Photobook Festival
with Veronika Epple and Irina Ruppert

2025 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf
Book presentation at Camera Austria
with June Drevet and Ulrich Ermann

2024 / Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf
Les Rencontres d‘Arles / FRA
with Anna Stemmler



AWARDS


2026 / Dokumentarfotografie Förderpreise 16 
by Wüstenrot Stiftung and Museum Folkwang

2023 / C/O Berlin Talent Award 2023
Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf Micheldorf
Shortlist



2023 / START Stipend for artistic photography;
Federal Chancellery of Austria



2021 / Journalistenpreis Punkt – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften
Es werde Schnee

2020 / VGH-Fotopreis
Es werde Schnee

2018 / Lumix Festival
Josef / audience award