Deutsche Börse Names 2027 Photography Prize Shortlist
The foundation announced four artists competing for a 30,000-pound prize with exhibitions to follow in London and Frankfurt.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Photography
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The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation has revealed the four artists shortlisted for its 2027 photography prize. Hoda Afshar, Lotus L Kang, Sasha Kurmaz, and Salvatore Vitale were selected for their significant contributions to photography through recent exhibitions and books.
Why it matters
The prize aims to recognize outstanding and innovative work in the field of photography by highlighting projects that have had a major impact on the medium over the past year.
The winner of the award receives a prize of £30,000. The shortlist was selected by a jury including Laia Abril, Damarice Amao, Verónica Fieiras, Anne-Marie Beckmann, and Shoair Mavlian.
The players
Hoda Afshar
She is one of the four photographers selected for the 2027 shortlist.
Sasha Kurmaz
He is a shortlisted artist who previously won the 2026 Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award for his publication Red Horse.
Lotus L Kang
She is an artist recognized for her work featuring 49 bottles that earned a place on the 2027 shortlist.
Salvatore Vitale
He is a photographer included in the shortlist for his recent work and contributions to the medium.
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
This organization is responsible for administering the annual photography prize and hosting the traveling exhibitions.
The details
Shortlisted artists were chosen for works that notably shaped photography in Europe, with pieces ranging from complex publications to multi-part installations. The selected projects will be displayed in an exhibition touring through major European cities throughout 2027.
Timeline
The exhibition will be at The Photographers' Gallery in London from 10 March 2027 to 06 June 2027.
The exhibition will move to the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in Eschborn/Frankfurt from 19 June 2027 to 26 September 2027.
The final prize winner will be announced in April 2027.
Culture Shift
The annual selection process for the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation prize highlights the evolution of professional photography and how artists are challenging traditional narrative forms. This shift reflects a broader movement toward conceptual and research-based exhibitions in European galleries.
Photography enthusiasts can plan to view the short-listed projects when the exhibition arrives in London and Frankfurt in 2027. Attendance at these galleries offers a direct opportunity to see the award-winning works that defined the previous year of photography.
The takeaway
The announcement of this shortlist highlights the specific artistic projects that curators believe have moved the needle in contemporary photography. Viewers should look for these exhibitions in 2027 to see how these four artists define the current state of the medium.
Further reading
Explore more industry insights at Photography.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 1854 Photography.
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