The Saltzman-Leibovitz photography prize, founded in 2025 by Lisa Saltzman and Annie Leibovitz, announces its winners and runners-up for 2026. Bolivian photographer Marisol Mendez wins for her series 'MADRE,' which challenges patriarchal representations of women in Bolivia through portraits of matriarchs and references to the Inca moon goddess. Runner-up Miranda Barnes documents African American debutante cotillions in Detroit, while other featured photographers include Bettina Pittaluga and Cole Ndelu, whose works explore body diversity and the fusion of Zulu cosmology with Catholicism. The exhibition runs at Photo London, Olympia, 13–17 May 2026.
The prize matters because it specifically elevates emerging female visual storytellers at a pivotal moment in their careers, addressing underrepresented narratives around race, gender, and cultural identity. By honoring the legacy of Ralph and Muriel Saltzman—committed collectors and patrons—and Annie Leibovitz's book 'Women,' the initiative signals a continued institutional push to diversify photography and support women photographers tackling complex social issues through intimate, collaborative portraiture.