A new photography prize, backed by two of the medium’s most influential figures, is set to highlight emerging talent with an emphasis on storytelling and artistic vision. The Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize, established by Lisa Saltzman, a New York-based photographer, film producer, and philanthropist, in collaboration with Annie Leibovitz, one of the most celebrated photographers of our time, has announced its inaugural shortlist.
With a total prize fund of $20,000, the award aims to recognize the next wave of photographers while reaffirming the transformative power of the image. The six shortlisted artists were drawn from Leibovitz’s mentorship program, an initiative tied to her tenure as IKEA’s first Artist in Residence, which invited young photographers to explore themes from the Life at Home Report. Their resulting portfolio, developed under Leibovitz’s guidance, was exhibited alongside her own work at Paris Fashion Week in February 2024.
For Saltzman, this prize is a natural extension of her commitment to fostering emerging talent. Through the Saltzman Family Foundation, which she founded in 2020 to honor her late parents—renowned art patrons Ralph and Muriel Saltzman—she has established major awards, including the Ralph Saltzman Prize at London’s Design Museum and the Saltzman Prize for Emerging Photographers at the Center for Photography at Woodstock, where she serves as a trustee.
Leibovitz, whose portraits have shaped contemporary visual culture for decades, brings an unparalleled level of prestige to the initiative. Her collaboration signals a deep investment in the future of the medium, ensuring that the prize holds weight not only as a financial opportunity but also as a career-defining moment for its recipients.
Lisa Saltzman, Founder of the Saltzman-Leibovitz Prize said: “My parents deeply admired and supported the work of Annie Leibovitz. This prize allows me to honour their legacy and continue their collaboration in a meaningful way. Art was a significant part of their lives, and I know they would be deeply moved by this initiative. It is so meaningful for me to collaborate with Annie a true legend.
The shortlisted photographers, hailing from six different countries, each bring a distinctive approach to the craft:
- Elena Kalinichenko (Ukraine) – A documentarian of the overlooked, Kalinichenko’s work captures the fleeting beauty of everyday life.
- Ka’Vozia Glynn (United States) – Rooted in bold color and dynamic composition, Glynn’s images reflect a lifelong passion for visual storytelling.
- Praise Hassan (Nigeria) – A multi-disciplinary artist whose conceptual photography intersects with poetry, music, and design.
- Toma Hurduc (Romania) – A cinematography graduate with a documentary approach, examining people and their environments with a keen, observant lens.
- Trâm Nguyễn Quang (Netherlands) – A cognitive neuroscience student who blends research with analogue photography to explore themes of nostalgia and memory.
- Zélie Hallosserie (France) – A biologist-turned-photographer whose slow, meticulous process lends itself to intimate, documentary-style storytelling.
The prize will award $10,000 to the first-place winner, followed by $5,000 for second place and smaller awards ranging from $2,000 to $500 for the remaining finalists.
The winners will be chosen by a distinguished panel of experts in photography and contemporary art:
- Drew Sawyer, Photography Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art
- Isolde Brielmaier, Curator and Scholar
- Kira Pollack, Freelance Photo Editor
- Mary Grace Reeder, Associate Director, Hauser & Wirth
- Raul Martinez, Creative Director, Vogue and Condé Nast
The final judging process will conclude on January 31, 2025, with the panel assessing each artist’s body of work for its conceptual rigor, technical execution, and emotional depth.
With its debut, the Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize joins a growing movement of initiatives that seek to propel young photographers onto the international stage. As the industry continues to evolve in response to digital shifts and new modes of storytelling, the presence of established voices—Saltzman and Leibovitz chief among them—ensures that the next generation will be both seen and heard.
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©2025 Saltzman-Leibovitz
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