Clémence Vina Polès is a creative director, photographer & curator based in New York City.
Half French, half Iranian, and, raised in a skyscraper-less Dubai, Clémence has always had a deep curiosity and fascination with people—how they live, what they listen to, and what motivates them.
In 2015, she founded passerby, an online magazine with a cult following that takes an intimate look inside the lives and homes of diverse women around the world, gaining press from the likes of Refinery29, Architectural Digest, Gossamer, PaperMag, and Sight Unseen.
After having interviewed over 400 women, Clémence sought to create more spaces that empower women by co-founding FFFest in 2018, a non-profit film festival that spotlights and celebrates women in film. FFFest educated audiences on the achievements of women filmmakers as well as offers tools and resources to navigate the film industry.
Some highlights from this experience include bringing a community of over 4000 cinephiles and filmmakers together over the course of a weekend, presenting the first retrospective of Kei Fujiwara's works, premiering Safi Faye's 1996 award-winning Mossane in the West Coast, and hosting filmmakers such as Shirin Neshat, Laurie Simmons, Alma Har'el, Crystal Moselle, Janet Mock and more.
In 2020, Clémence took on the role of Editorial Director for the relaunch of Girlboss Radio, where she challenged our perceptions of success, expanding on Girlboss' mission of empowering women through more diverse representations and definitions.
Presently, Clémence is the Creative Director at the social-impact-driven communications firm, No. 29, working with brands that defy the status quo across a range of industries from design, tech, fashion, film, and food. In 2021, she launched the agency’s podcast, Enough., challenging our understanding of business and celebrating viable solutions to the inequities of today.
Press: Vogue (1) (2) (3) (4) (5), Architectural Digest (1) (2), The Cut (1) (2), Coveteur (1) (2), Anyone Girl Issue 3, Why This Is Interesting, Repeller, Gossamer, Maude, Maimoun, Thingtesting, Moveable Fest, meaww, Imperfectly Perfect, Girls Night In, Curbed, Condé Nast Traveler, WSJ (1) (2), Camilla and Marc, Society 6 Blog, and Cap Beauty.
Instagram: @clemencepoles
Email: clemence@passerbymagazine.com