Susan Meiselas Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2025

Susan Meiselas has been named the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Photography award from the Sony World Photography Awards, honoring her profound influence on photography over the last 50 years. Known for her deeply immersive style, Meiselas has shaped the field of documentary photography with insightful portrayals that capture the essence of people in their communities.

Her work often focuses on the lives and stories of women, from girls in New York’s Little Italy, to strippers at state fairs, to survivors of domestic violence in the UK. She’s also known for her human rights documentation across Latin America and her photographic history of Kurdistan. Meiselas’ projects, which include rich narratives from those she photographs, are collaborative efforts often accompanied by field notes and personal testimonies.

A selection of Meiselas’ work will be exhibited at London’s Somerset House from April 17 to May 5, 2025, featuring five key projects, some being shown in the UK for the first time. This includes early works like 44 Irving Street, Prince Street Girls, and Carnival Strippers, alongside later projects like Pandora’s Box and A Room of Their Own. Each series highlights recurring themes Meiselas has explored over her career, often bringing to light stories hidden from the public eye.

The exhibition will showcase her unique approach to storytelling and relationship-building. 44 Irving Street (1971) invited residents in her boarding house to reflect on how they perceived themselves versus how they appeared in her portraits. Prince Street Girls (1975-1990) captures a group of young girls in Little Italy as they navigate adolescence and adulthood.

In Carnival Strippers (1972-75), Meiselas documents the lives of women working in strip shows across New England, weaving their personal and professional stories with audio from all involved, including performers, show managers, and audience members. Pandora’s Box (1995) presents a look into a New York City S&M club, while A Room of Their Own (2015-2017) offers a glimpse into the lives of women in a UK refuge, blending portraits with testimonies and artwork created by survivors.

Meiselas, born in Baltimore in 1948, earned her MA in visual education from Harvard and began photographing during summer breaks, creating her first major series, Carnival Strippers. She joined Magnum Photos in 1976, and her images of the Nicaraguan revolution remain iconic.

Reflecting on the award, Meiselas said, “It’s an honor to receive this award for my contribution to photography. Over 50 years, I’ve witnessed and documented history in the making, capturing the unseen lives of those shaping it. This exhibition is a chance to reflect not only on the images but also on the relationships that brought them to life.”

As the 18th recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography, Meiselas joins esteemed predecessors including Mary Ellen Mark (2014), Martin Parr (2017), Graciela Iturbide (2021), Edward Burtynsky (2022), and Sebastião Salgado (2024).

Meiselas will be presented with her Award at the annual gala ceremony in London on 16
April 2025, during an evening of celebrations for the overall winners of the Sony World
Photography Awards 2025. For more information about upcoming announcements and
winners, please visit www.worldphoto.org.