Winner: Marisol Mendez – MADRE
Bolivian photographer Marisol Mendez explores the tension between truth and fiction in her series MADRE. Her portraits challenge preconceived biases about women, using piercing gazes to resist erasure in a country shaped by colonialism, patriarchy, and intertwined faiths. One image features Carmen Paz, a matriarch who never married or had children but is recognised as the head of her family through presence and independence. Another, Killa (Quechua for “moon”), evokes the Inca moon goddess Mama Quilla, a protector of women, in the context of alarming gender violence britbrief.co.uk.
Runner-Up: Miranda Barnes – The Debutantes’ Ball
Miranda Barnes documents African American cotillions, particularly in Detroit, through her project The Debutantes’ Ball (2022–2025). Inspired by research into Black traditions, she captures the glamour, community, and generational excellence of debutante culture, countering historical erasure of well-dressed, articulate Black women britbrief.co.uk.
Other Featured Photographers
- Cole Ndelu – Black Church: Merges Zulu cosmology, ritual, and Catholic doctrine to explore girlhood, womanhood, and mother–daughter relationships in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Lindeka Qampi – Self-taught South African photographer, part of the community-based collective Iliso Labantu, creating socially engaged work since 2006 britbrief.co.uk.
Exhibition
The winning and featured works will be displayed at Photo London, Olympia from 13–17 May 2026, offering a visual journey into the diverse narratives being told by women photographers today.
This year’s prize reflects a broader shift in contemporary photography, where women—especially women of colour—are not only documenting but redefining the stories that shape our visual culture.
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