Intention, Risk, Necessity: What Judges Value In Today's Visual Projects

PhMuseum 2026 Women Photographers Grant judges Elisa Medde, Yagazie Emezi, Mariela Sancari and Myriam Boulos, plus MPB VP of Marketing Jennifer Tietze and PhMuseum Artistic Director Giuseppe Oliverio, share their vision on what makes a project stand out.

One of the most defining elements of any open call is the panel of judges. For each edition of the PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant, we bring together a different group of independent experts to select the work they consider most valuable. The diversity of their experience, backgrounds and expertise not only affects each edition’s final result, but also shapes a conversation that changes every year. Understanding a judge’s vision can offer useful insight for artists considering applying, so we reached out to this edition’s panel to learn more about their perspectives and areas of interest.

“I hope to see works that are obstinate in their poetry, necessary in their critique, and haunting in their force”, says curator and writer Elisa Medde

With a career spent questioning the ethics, politics, and power dynamics of image-making and a background in Art History, Iconology and Photographic Studies, Elisa Medde approaches photography as both an aesthetic endeavor and an urgent civic act. Her curatorial vision constantly pushes past surface aesthetics to search for what lies beneath. Medde reminds us that photography does not need to choose between formal rigor and socio-political engagement. When a project is "obstinate in its poetry," its visual choices actively serve its critique rather than decoratively softening it. For this edition, her eye naturally gravitates toward works that stay with the viewer long after the initial encounter – projects that dare to take uncompromising risks in both form and intent.

“I look forward to seeing stories that show care and intention. Works that can be intense, soft, difficult, obvious, or all of the above. A clear ethical approach should be evident in the images themselves and I equally look forward to reading the full description of the works that expand on thought, access and process”, points artist and photojournalist Yagazie Emezi

Yagazie Emezi’s work consistently centers on unearthing global patterns of inequity from an indigenous point of view. Prior to turning to a studio-based practice, she spent a decade as a photojournalist covering global issues around corruption, environmental failure, and the extension of colonial policies into current international relations. In an era where visual storytelling can easily slide into exploitation or superficial spectacle, Emezi places ethical responsibility at the center of the creative process. Care and intention are not passive traits; they manifest in the proximity between photographer and subject, in the respect given to complex narratives, and in the transparency of the artistic journey. Her statement calls for applications where the written narrative and the visual material exist in active dialogue, proving that a project’s methodology is just as vital as its final visual form.

“I hope to discover images that open new layers of meaning; photographs that go beyond representation and make us think not only about what they show, but also how they shape the way we see and understand the world”, adds photographer Mariela Sancari

With her work revolving around truthfulness and fiction in images, Mariela Sancari uses personal narratives to explore the boundaries of the scope of photography as a means of representation. Her practice refers to the affective dimension, yet not sentimental, of autobiographical work, as well as formal explorations of the medium, through questions related to staging and self-referentiality in photographic practice. Photography is never a neutral window onto reality – it is a mechanism that actively constructs how we remember and understand existence. Sancari’s perspective invites artists to step away from mere literal recording and consider the structural language of the medium itself.

“I am drawn to distinctive visual languages that come from the photographers' guts to explore and express their obsessions, special interests and fights”, explains the photographer Myriam Boulos

Myriam Boulos’s photography is known for its raw and visceral intimacy with its subjects. Operating from the center of social turmoil, youth culture, and personal struggle, Boulos views the camera as an extension of physical and emotional urgency. Her search for work born from "the guts" highlights a crucial aspect of artistic practice: authenticity over trend-chasing. In a visual culture that often favors polished uniformity, Boulos advocates for the messy, the deeply personal, and the obsessive. She calls for artists to bring their internal battles, personal obsessions, and political convictions into their work, reminding us that the most compelling visual languages are formed when an artist has an undeniable, deeply felt need to speak.

“One of the things I love about photography is how it allows people to share their own perspectives and tell stories in ways that words sometimes can't. But not everyone has the same opportunity to get their work seen. At MPB, we want to help change that, which is why supporting women and non-binary photographers through the PhMuseum grant is important to us. I'm particularly excited to discover work that offers a fresh perspective, challenges how we see things or simply tells a story in a way only that photographer can.” says Jennifer Tietze, MPB VP of Marketing

Access to equipment, visibility and financial support remains one of the most persistent hurdles to sustaining a long-term creative career, particularly for women and non-binary photographers, who have historically faced structural underrepresentation. MPB, Europe’s top camera reseller and partner of this tenth edition, will select two projects for Special Mentions in collaboration with PhMuseum. Each will receive a €2,500 voucher to spend on used photo and video gear at mpb.com. By combining access to resources with visibility, the partnership aims to make storytelling more open to all. Tietze’s focus reflects a desire for distinct, irreplaceable voices: stories shaped by individual, lived experience.

“We look for artists willing to challenge the way they present their work in a physical space, aiming for collaboration and innovative ways to foster the dialogue between the artist-curator proposal and the venue’s visitors”, comments PhMuseum Artistic Director Giuseppe Oliverio  

The works exhibited at PhMuseum Lab have always been diverse in nature, from documentary projects and deeply personal narratives to conceptual and aesthetic investigations. What unites them is a willingness to think beyond the boundaries of the frame and consider how photography physically inhabits a space. At PhMuseum, curation is understood as an active continuation of an artist’s research, a process in which scale, materials and the visitor’s path through the space turn a two-dimensional project into an immersive experience. Oliverio highlights the importance of spatial ambition and flexibility. Bringing a project into a physical venue requires openness to dialogue, a willingness to experiment with materials, and a desire to create a dynamic encounter with the audience. Head here to read about Cintia Tortosa Santisteban's exhibition, selected in 2025 and produced in June 2026.

Submissions for the PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant are open until tonight 15 October, 11:59 pm GMT, at phmuseum.com/w26. We hope these insights inspire you to present your work in the most honest way, digging into the deepest layers and motivations behind it. As you refine your submission, you can also check out our Tips and Mistakes to Avoid guide, and our list of Main Reasons To Apply.

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Over the past 10 years, the PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant has become a key international award, recognized for championing contemporary photography and for fostering emerging talent through financial support, exhibitions at major festivals, educational programs and wide online visibility. More information and applications are available at phmuseum.com/w26.