French photographer Zélie Hallosserie, whose work paperwork the pressing realities of immigrant life in Europe, has been named the inaugural winner of the Saltzman-Leibovitz Images Prize. The 21-year-old artist is at present finishing her bachelor’s diploma in pictures at ESA Saint-Luc Tournai in Belgium.
The prize was launched by American artist Annie Leibovitz, recognized for her daring, posed portraits of celebrities, in partnership with New York–based mostly photographer Lisa Saltzman. The prize totals $20,000, supported by the Saltzman Basis, with Hallosserie receiving the $10,000 first-place award. Shortlisted artists embrace Ukrainian artist Elena Kalinichenko, American photographer Ka’Vozia Glynn, Nigerian artist Reward Hassan, Romanian artist Toma Hurduc, and London-based Trâm Nguyễn Quang. Shortlisted artists had been chosen from a mentorship program run by Leibovitz. Their work might be a part of a bunch presentation at Photograph London 2025, which runs from Could fifteenth to 18th.
Hallosserie is at present engaged on a undertaking titled “The Recreation,” which captures the tales of migrants passing via Calais, France, on their technique to the UK. Her work has documented folks from nations reminiscent of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eritrea as they put together to cross the English Channel.
“Zélie’s pictures stands out for its means to humanize complicated social points with sincerity and depth,” mentioned Saltzman. “Her delicate method not solely highlights vital social points but in addition connects viewers emotionally to the resilience and humanity of her topics. Supporting artists like Zélie is exactly why we based this prize.”
Based mostly in Tournai, Belgium, Hallosserie has recurrently visited an area shelter throughout the French border as a part of the undertaking. The artist hopes her work can disrupt the discriminatory depictions of immigrants throughout Europe. “Images permits me to defend topics near my coronary heart, to create real connections, and to continually problem my very own perspective,” Hallosserie mentioned in a press launch. “This recognition was sudden, however I’m extremely grateful for the chance and visibility it brings to a trigger and undertaking that imply a lot to me,” she added.
Artists shortlisted for the prize had been chosen by Whitney Museum of Artwork curator Drew Sawyer, picture editor Kira Pollack, scholar and curator Isolde Brielmaier, and artistic director of Vogue Raul Martinez.
