Artnet News highlights the top photography moments of 2025, including Sara Cwynar's exhibition of search-engine images at ICA Boston, Inuuteq Storch's debut at MoMA PS1 showcasing his Greenlandic hometown, and Dietemar Busse's Polaroid portraits celebrated at Amant, New York. The year also saw Wolfgang Tillmans' blockbuster farewell exhibition at the Centre Pompidou before its five-year renovation, and Marian Goodman Gallery's inaugural show of Ana Mendieta's work, "Back to the Source," featuring her iconic photographs and performances. Mendieta's work was also spotlighted at Art Basel Miami Beach, with her piece "Sandwoman" (1983) drawing emotional responses from visitors.
These moments matter because they demonstrate photography's enduring power to re-educate audiences on seeing amid a flood of AI-generated imagery. Tillmans' expansive exhibition at a major institution underscores the medium's capacity for depth and meaning, while Mendieta's resurgence—bolstered by new gallery representation and a forthcoming Tate Modern retrospective in 2026—signals a shift from art-world favorite to broader cultural recognition. The article collectively affirms photography's role in addressing themes of identity, memory, and social commentary in an increasingly digital age.