The Saltzman Family Foundation and the Center for Photography at Woodstock Announce A New Prize for Emerging Photographers: The Saltzman Prize
The inaugural Saltzman Prize nominees
Written by Madeline Lerner
Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard
This week, the Saltzman Family Foundation and The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) announced a new prize for Emerging Photographer of The Year, titled The Saltzman Prize. The prize will grant the winning photographer $10,000 and help fund a solo exhibition for the artist at the CPW booth at PHOTOFAIRS New York. The recipient of the first award will be celebrated during the CPW Vision Awards ceremony on April 20, 2024.
Portrait of Saltzman Prize founder Lisa Saltzman
Lisa Saltzman, a New York-based photographer and supporter of the arts founded the Saltzman Family Foundation in 2020 to honor her parents, art patrons and philanthropists Ralph and Muriel Saltzman. In collaboration with CPW, Lisa established The Saltzman Prize to recognize emerging photographers. It’s a “wonderful way to give recognition to these deserving photographers, and I am so grateful to CPW and our talented group of nominators and jury members, who are essential to uplifting these important and under-recognized artists,” she said.
This week, the Saltzman Family Foundation and the Center for Photography at Woodstock announced the ten nominees for the 2024 prize, selected by five distinguished nominators: photographer Deana Lawson, photography director of Opinion at The New York Times Jacqueline Bates, writer and curator Lyle Rexer, curator and historian Mark Sealy, and MoMA curator Oluremi Onabanjo. The winning nominee will be selected by a jury of MacArthur fellow Deborah Willis, President of the Magnum Foundation Susan Meiselas, and Director of the Asia Society Yasufumi Nakamori. Five nominators will be convened each October by the CPW, and the jury decision will follow. The winner will exhibit their solo show at PHOTOFAIRS within a year of the ceremony.
Among this year's ten nominees are Nhu Xuan Hua, a French photographer engaging in various disciplines from fashion to a multidisciplinary exploration of family and inherited memory, and Hady Barry, whose artistic focus explores photography and sound. Eric Gyamfi, Patrice Aphrodite
Helmar, Hailun Ma, Rory Mulligan, Trina Michelle Robinson, Keisha Scarville, Caroline Tompkins, and Wilfred Ukpong are also nominated. They embody a diverse class of photographers from across the globe, spanning various ages and backgrounds. Each individual possesses a distinct approach to their art. Ultimately, the award not only brings recognition to all nominated emerging photographers but also crucially acknowledges the talent and dedication these artists bring to their craft.
In an industry marked by fierce competition and formidable barriers, the Saltzman Prize fosters a sense of appreciation for the relentless pursuit of artistic excellence amidst a competitive landscape. We at Musée strive to highlight emerging artists, as they are the catalysts of innovation, bringing vitality and new perspectives into the dynamic tapestry of the ever-evolving art world. It is so exciting to see a new opportunity for these photographers to be recognized.
