French photographer Zélie Hallosserie, whose work documents the urgent realities of immigrant life in Europe, has been named the inaugural winner of the Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize. The 21-year-old artist is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in photography at ESA Saint-Luc Tournai in Belgium.
The prize was launched by American artist Annie Leibovitz, known for her bold, posed portraits of celebrities, in partnership with New York–based photographer Lisa Saltzman. The prize totals $20,000, supported by the Saltzman Foundation, with Hallosserie receiving the $10,000 first-place award. Shortlisted artists include Ukrainian artist Elena Kalinichenko, American photographer Ka’Vozia Glynn, Nigerian artist Praise Hassan, Romanian artist Toma Hurduc, and London-based Trâm Nguyễn Quang. Shortlisted artists were selected from a mentorship program run by Leibovitz. Their work will be part of a group presentation at Photo London 2025, which runs from May 15th to 18th.
Hallosserie is currently working on a project titled “The Game,” which captures the stories of migrants passing through Calais, France, on their way to the United Kingdom. Her work has documented people from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eritrea as they prepare to cross the English Channel.
“Zélie’s photography stands out for its ability to humanize complex social issues with sincerity and depth,” said Saltzman. “Her sensitive approach not only highlights critical social issues but also connects viewers emotionally to the resilience and humanity of her subjects. Supporting artists like Zélie is precisely why we founded this prize.”
Based in Tournai, Belgium, Hallosserie has regularly visited a local shelter across the French border as part of the project. The artist hopes her work can disrupt the discriminatory depictions of immigrants across Europe. “Photography allows me to defend subjects close to my heart, to create genuine connections, and to constantly challenge my own perspective,” Hallosserie said in a press release. “This recognition was unexpected, but I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and visibility it brings to a cause and project that mean so much to me,” she added.
Artists shortlisted for the prize were selected by Whitney Museum of Art curator Drew Sawyer, photo editor Kira Pollack, scholar and curator Isolde Brielmaier, and creative director of Vogue Raul Martinez.
