The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize shortlist has been announced by the National Portrait Gallery in London. The five photographers nominated for the 2023 prize are:
- Serena Brown, for me nana fie features the photographer’s younger sister visiting her grandma’s home in Ghana for the first time.
- Jake Green for Shaun Ryder capturing the Happy Mondays lead singer obscured by a vapour cloud.
- Carl Francois van der Linde for Chotu Lal Upside-down depicting professional wrestlers of Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE).
- Alexandre Silberman for Diena, examining the intersections of people and the natural world, captured at La Courneuve park outside Paris, France.
- Gilleam Trapenberg for Kisha and LaDarayon, 2023 picturing the quiet affection between a mother and son on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.
The prestigious photography award is organised by the National Portrait Gallery, London. The shortlisted works will be displayed in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 exhibition as the show returns to the National Portrait Gallery, open from 9 November 2023 until 25 February 2024.
Owing to the outstanding quality of submissions this year, a joint third-place prize will be awarded to two photographers from a shortlist of five. Selected by a panel of judges from 5020 entries from 1785 photographers, the five shortlisted photographers are:
is a renowned international photography competition and exhibition held annually at the National Portrait Gallery in London, United Kingdom. The prize aims to celebrate and showcase contemporary portrait photography, inviting photographers from around the world to submit their work for consideration.
The competition was established in 2003 and has since become one of the most prestigious awards in the field of portrait photography. It is named after the law firm Taylor Wessing, which has sponsored the prize since its inception. The competition and exhibition provide a platform for both established and emerging photographers to showcase their talents and creative visions in the realm of portraiture.
Photographers are invited to submit portraits that capture the essence and personality of their subjects. The competition is open to a wide range of photographic approaches, including traditional and experimental styles. Entries can encompass a variety of subjects, from individuals and groups to self-portraits and even photographs that challenge conventional definitions of portraiture.
A panel of judges, consisting of experts from the fields of photography, art, and culture, reviews the submitted works and selects the winners. The competition typically awards cash prizes to the winners, with the top portrait being awarded the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. The winning photographs, along with a selection of the best entries, are then showcased in an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, allowing the public to engage with the diverse and creative perspectives of contemporary portrait photography.
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize has played a significant role in promoting and advancing the art of portrait photography, while also encouraging dialogue about identity, representation, and human stories through the lens of photography. It has become an important annual event in the photography world and draws attention to the power of portraiture in capturing the complexities of human existence.