Now in its third year, the CPW Saltzman Prize for Emerging Photographer recognizes a photographer whose recent work has gained broader visibility for its unique perspective and contribution to contemporary themes. The award includes a $10,000 prize and will be presented at the 2026 CPW Vision Awards gala on May 16.
This year, the Saltzman Prize was awarded to Sridhar Balasubramaniyam, a Chennai-based artist, chosen from a shortlist of ten international candidates. Balasubramaniyam explores the complex relationship between body and land and will present a solo exhibition at CPW in 2027.
With over a decade as a performance artist and photographer working in theaters across India, Balasubramaniyam’s work draws from the folk traditions, performance practices, and tribal wedding rituals of southern India’s Dravidian communities.
His project Body and Land has received significant recognition, including the Alkazi Theatre Photography Grant and the Serendipity Photography Grant in 2020. The project was exhibited at the Alkazi Theatre Archives in 2022 and later presented at the National Portrait Gallery in 2024. In 2025, he was nominated for the Joop Masterclass, an educational initiative of World Press Photo, and was a finalist for KG+, the open-entry satellite festival of Kyotographie, in 2026.
The 2026 prize jury included Clément Chéroux, Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson; Carrie Mae Weems; and Sarah Meister, Executive Director of Aperture. The jury also awarded honorable mentions to Widline Cadet (Los Angeles, CA) and Kerr Cirilo (Brooklyn, NY).
