Nominations by referrers 2026

National Director of the Jorge Luis Borges Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, one of Argentina’s leading public cultural institutions. Under his leadership, the Center has strengthened its national and international profile, significantly increased audience attendance, and developed an interdisciplinary program integrating visual arts, music, theatre, performance, and educational laboratories. The institution comprises multiple permanent exhibition spaces, including a prominent photography space of reference within the city. An Architect graduated from the National University of La Plata
and a Technical Designer in Theatrical Scenography (Buenos Aires, Argentina), he is a director, set designer, and producer with more than thirty years of experience and over 300 productions realized in Argentina and abroad. He has developed a distinguished international career across Europe and Latin America, working in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. He designed the French production of Cabaret, directed by Sam Mendes, at the historic Folies Bergère in Paris, subsequently presented in Amsterdam and Madrid. In Spain, he directed and designed The Bridges of Madison County at the Gran Vía Theatre in Madrid, where he received awards for Best Musical Director and Best Set Design. In Argentina, he has directed and designed
more than 300 major theatre productions, including Cabaret, Life Is a Dream, The Summer Trilogy, Young Frankenstein, Amadeus, and The Producers, among others. At the Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires, he designed Così fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck, and The Diary of One Who Disappeared by Leoš Janáček. He has been awarded the Konex Platinum Award as Best Argentine Set Designer of the Decade and has received the country’s highest distinctions in the performing arts, consolidating his position as a leading institutional figure in contemporary Argentine culture.

Stephen Bulger (born Toronto, 1964) engaged in photography as a hobby throughout his youth. While studying at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Image Arts, he became interested in the history of photography, began organizing exhibitions and the founding director of the Ryerson Gallery (located at 80 Spadina Ave., Toronto) where he sat on the exhibition review committee and managed over thirty exhibitions. After graduating from TMU with a BA in 1991, he worked in the photography department of OCADU and, while employed as a Technician there, he opened Stephen Bulger Gallery (700 Queen St. West, Toronto) on March 23, 1995; moving to 1026 Queen Street West in 2004, and to 1356 Dundas Street West in the fall of 2017. Since that time, he has: curated over 300 exhibitions; been the representative for numerous Canadian and international photographers; published catalogues and books; and has participated in many North American and European art fairs. He is on the Board of the Art Dealers Association of Canada, and is co-Chair of the Canadian Art Foundation. He served as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Image Centre at TMU, Toronto; President of the Board for the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD), Washington, D.C.; and the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board. He is also a co-founder of CONTACT, Toronto’s annual photography festival.

Dimitri Beck is the editor in chief and the director of photography of Polka (magazine+gallery+factory), in Paris, France. As part of the executive management since 2008, he has been contributing to the development of Polka company. gives lectures on photojournalism at
conferences and also teaches at the journalism department of SciencesPo Paris and also at the International photo school Speos. He participates in many International photo juries and he is running a weekly radio programme about photography.Prior to working at Polka, was the Director of the Aina Photo Agency based in the Afghan capital Kabul from September 2004 to December 2006, where he was also the Editor-in-chief for the Anglo-French feature magazine “Les Nouvelles de Kaboul – New Afghanistan”. Before he was working as editor-in-chief of Reza Deghati’s photo agency “Webistan”. His thirst to travel especially in the Caucasus mountains and across Central Asia started in late 1990s when he started out as an independent journalist filing reports to French and international media outlets. was born in Paris, France, in 1972.

Artdirector and General Representative Leica Galleries International (Austria) Karin Rehn-Kaufmann studied German and Philosophy at the University of Freiburg. German studies and philosophy. She also obtained her diploma at the Eurythmische University at Stuttgart, where she subsequently worked as a Lecturer. After the Salzburg-based austrian capital management GmbH joined Leica Camera AG in 2005, her long-standing passion for photography manifested itself in 2008 by the opening of the Leica Gallery Salzburg.
Today, Karin Rehn-Kaufmann acts as Art Director and General Representative Leica Galleries International and manages the 26 Leica Galleries worldwide. She has successfully curated numerous important photo exhibitions such as the project
“China Flight” project with spectacular aerial photographs from the 1930s, exhibition concepts for the Leica Gallery as part of Photokina 2012, 2014 and 2016, as well as the exhibition “10×10” on the occasion of the anniversary ‘100 years of Leica photography’. She is responsible for the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar and curated the exhibitions of photographers like Joseph Koudelka, Steve McCurry, Thomas Hoepker, Bryan Adams, Rankin and many more.
Since 2008 Karin Rehn-Kaufmann has been a jury member of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and has played a key role in shaping and developing the prestigious photography prize. She is editor of the catalog “40 Years of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award” and curator of the exhibition of the same name, and the annual LOBA presentations at the Ernst Leitz Museum.

Todd Hido (born in Kent, Ohio, 1968) wanders endlessly in search of imagery that connects with his own memories. Through his unique landscape process and signature color palette, Hido alludes to the quiet and mysterious side of suburban America—where uniform communities provide for a stable façade—implying the instability that often lies behind the walls. His photographs are in over 50 private and public collections around the world, including the Getty, Whitney Museum of American Art, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Pier 24 Photography holds the archive of all of his published works, and his work has been exhibited at Les Rencontres d’Arles in 2025 and 2023. Hido has published more than a dozen books, including the award-winning monographs House Hunting (2001) and Excerpts from Silver Meadows (2013). His Aperture titles include Todd Hido on Landscapes, Interiors, and the Nude (2014) and Intimate Distance: Twenty-Five Years of Photographs (2016). A revised and expanded edition has been released in 3 languages (2025). He returned to the cinematic landscape photography that he first explored with Roaming (2003), as well as in Bright Black World (2018), and followed it up with The End Sends Advance Warning (2024). Hido is also an avid photobook collector, and in the last 30 years has created a notable collection of almost 10,000 titles.His work has influenced multiple Hollywood productions, such as Spike Jones’s Her, Sam Levinson’s Euphoria, Issa López’s True Detective: Night Country, and the directorial project by Jason Momoa, Chief of War. He is also one of the subjects of Momoa’s documentary project on creative makers for HBO Max, On The Roam.

Davide Monteleone is a visual artist, researcher, and National Geographic Fellow whose work spans photography, visual journalism, writing, and interdisciplinary projects. His practice explores complex themes including geopolitics, geography, identity, data, and science. Originally from Italy, Monteleone spent over a decade in Russia between 2000 and 2021, where he developed his early series and published four acclaimed monographs: Dusha (2007), Red
Thistle (2012), Spasibo (2013), and The April Theses (2017). His work has been published in leading outlets such as National Geographic, Time, and The New Yorker, and exhibited at major institutions including the Saatchi Gallery in London, the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, and the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. His project Sinomocene (2022), a data-driven investigation into China’s economic expansion, resulted in both an exhibition and a book, reinforcing his commitment to narratives that merge visual language with investigative research. In 2024, he completed Critical Minerals – Geography of Energy, an exploration of the geopolitical and environmental implications of resources central to the energy transition, further advancing his inquiry into the global climatic and economic impacts of contemporary transformations. Among the many recognitions Monteleone has received are the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (2024), the Deloitte Photo Grant (2024), the National Geographic Fellowship (2019), the Asia Society Fellowship (2016), and the Carmignac Photojournalism Award (2013). He holds a Master’s degree in Art and Politics from Goldsmiths, University of London, and actively collaborates as a curator and educator with various public and private institutions.

Pancho Saula is an artist manager specializing in contemporary art and photography, with extensive experience in strategic career development and international positioning. Over the years, he has worked closely with artists at different stages of their careers, guiding them through the development of long-term artistic trajectories and helping them navigate the global art ecosystem. Saula’s work often involves the production and coordination of complex, research-based projects, including international exhibitions, institutional collaborations, and cross-disciplinary initiatives that connect visual arts with cultural, social, and geopolitical themes. His approach combines strategic planning, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the contemporary art landscape, ensuring that artists’ practices are coherently presented and sustainably developed over time.
Pancho Saula is the founder of Galería Alta, established in 2021 and now recognized as a premier destination for fine art photography and discerning collectors worldwide. As a curator and gallerist, he represents major figures in photography while boldly championing new voices, introducing emerging artists onto the international stage. His vision for Alta is grounded in a balance of experience and discovery, shaping a program where established masters and groundbreaking talents coexist in dynamic dialogue.

Eric R. Johnson is a partner at the law firm Stout Thomas & Johnson, where he has practiced since 1997, advising artists and cultural institutions on matters of copyright, trademark, and contract law. His practice is devoted to the representation of visual artists, artist agencies, museums, arts publications, designers, writers, and performance artists, with a focus on safeguarding creative rights and advancing the integrity of artistic work.
He serves as a trustee of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation and is a member of the board of directors of Puppies Behind Bars. He is also a member of the Visiting Committee of the Photography Department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He previously served on the board of Moving Theater, Inc. Mr. Johnson earned his B.A. from Binghamton University and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the Bar Association of the City of New York.

Brendan McCleary is a Curator and Producer with over 15 years experience across the arts, working across government, non-profit, corporate, and university sectors. For the past 6 years, he has worked with Photo Australia, Melbourne (2019-2025). As a founding team member, he was instrumental in creating and delivering the biennial’s public artworks. Recently, he presented PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography, featuring artists including Nan Goldin, Ryan McGinley, Mous Lamrabat, and filip custic. In 2024, Brendan was the lead curator for Queer PHOTO, a celebration of Australian and international queer artists transforming streets and galleries with projects focused towards understandings of queer futures, featuring artists such as Sunil Gupta, Clifford Prince King, Salote Tawale, Jake Elwes, and Lilah Benetti. He has worked with artists such as Cindy Sherman, Martine Gutierrez, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Thandiwe Muriu, Mohamed Bourouissa and Vasantha Yogananthan at PHOTO 2022, and Zanele Muholi, Hoda Afshar, Brook Andrew and Maree Clarke at PHOTO 2021. For PHOTO 2022, he curated Queering the Frame: Community, Time, Photography at the Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne. In 2025, he was a co-curator for the landmark exhibition On Country: Photography from Australia at the Rencontres d’Arles, 2025. Alongside his work for PHOTO Australia, Brendan has worked on exhibitions and installations with artists including Carolee Schneemann (Golden Lion, Venice 2019), Allora and Calzadilla (Venice Biennale 2017), and directed the program for the Monash MPavilion (designed by OMA). Beyond fine art, he has directed programs for White Night Melbourne, Melbourne Music Week and Dark Mofo. Gallery exhibitions include exhibitions at Monash University Museum of Art, BUS projects, and his four-year tenure as Gallery Director at SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne.

Arianna Rinaldo is a freelance professional working with photography at a wide range. From 2012 to 2021, she was the artistic director of Cortona On The Move, international festival of visual narrative. She is the co-founder and curator of photography at PhEST, a festival on contemporary photography and arts in Puglia since 2016. Arianna’s relationship with photography started in 1998 as Archive Director at Magnum Photos, NY; and then, back in Italy, as photo editor for Colors magazine. From 2004 to 2011, in Milan, she worked as an editorial consultant and curator for exhibitions and special projects. For 4 years she was a photo consultant at D, the weekend supplement of La Repubblica. For almost 10 years she was the director of OjodePez, a bilingual documentary photo quarterly published by La Fabrica in Madrid. Based in Barcelona since 2012, Arianna is active as a curator, educator, editor and consultant. She participates in photo events and festivals around the world as guest curator, speaker, educator and portfolio reviewer; and is regularly invited on jury panels and selection committees for international institutions and organizations. Arianna is intrigued by the amazing stories told through images. She is interested in contemporary documentary and original storytelling: visions on the current world and stories of humankind living on this planet, and beyond.