Dan Nelken is a photographer, documentary storyteller, and educator based in New York City. He specializes in long-term projects that provide insight into individuals and communities often overlooked by the cultural mainstream.
Born to parents who survived the Holocaust, Dan and his family lived in three countries before finally settling in Chicago. By then, Dan had developed an innate understanding of what it means to be an outsider struggling with the challenges of adapting and assimilating into new environments.
As a professional photographer, Dan balanced his thematic personal projects with assignments for design firms, corporate clients, and advertising agencies. These documentary and portrait projects have been exhibited and published internationally.
His photographs are in public and private collections, including the MAST Foundation, Bologna; The International Center of Photography; The Museum of Fine Arts Houston; Portland Museum of Art, Oregon; Haverford College Fine Art Photography Collection; University of Michigan Museum of Art; The Vontobel Art Collection, and W.M. Hunt, Collection Dancing Bear.
Among the institutions where he has lectured are Indiana University, The College of Staten Island, and the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
His first book, “Till the Cows Come Home: County Fair Portraits,” was published by Kehrer Verlag in 2003. “HeadStrong: The Women of Rural Uganda” will be published in 2026.
