Each year, Foam presents the Talent Award. The prize spotlights extraordinary new image-makers who are shaping the future of photography. This edition was a record-breaking one, with almost 3,000 submissions from 107 countries. Particularly exciting, the 2026 award marked the first time the Foam Talent Call welcomed artists of all ages in the early stages of their career. Those that submitted reflect a remarkably wide range of narratives, perspectives and artistic approaches. Many consider the constant global change and uncertainty of our times, addressing themes such as political oppression, mental health, religion and faith, displacement and the search for cultural identity. Technological developments are also represented, with Artificial Intelligence emerging as both an artist tool and a subject of examination in itself. The 30 selected artists, from 22 countries, demonstrate an enduring commitment to storytelling. Their works often connect to a notion of belonging – the search for a safe space, whether found within the home, family, community or a sense of place. We spotlight five photographers from the shortlist.
Ali Monis Naqvi
Ali Monis Naqvi is a photographer currently based out of Goa. His work is often about the unseen in our daily lives. In 2024, Naqvi’s work was described by Vogue India as “a soothing antidote to the fraught times we live in.” He was part of British Journal of Photography’s Ones to Watch in 2023, for his project Jahan – an Urdu word meaning “world” – which serves as a tribute to Naqvi’s grandmother’s huge influence on his life.
Ammar Yassir
Sudanese documentary photographer Ammar Yassir explores questions of belonging and displacement. His practice is rooted in the Sudanese civil war, a conflict which began in April 2023 and has since seen 150,000 people killed and 12 million flee their homes. Yassir himself left Khartoum in December 2023, and has since dedicated his camera to capturing life for those claiming asylum.
Ramona Jingru Wang
How can we express our care for each other through photographs? This question is the primary concern of Ramona Jingru Wang, an artist based “on the internet and New York.” Her work explores how images intervene with our reality and create connections among people and space. A recipient of the 2024 LensCulture Emerging Artist Award, her photographs have featured in the New York Times and Vice.
Farren van Wyk
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize. Photo Vogue. Photo Elysee. The past few years have seen Farren van Wyk go from strength to strength. The South African and Dutch photographer offers a dual perspective on her home countries. She focuses on historical and cultural misrepresentation of people of colour, showing “how she tries to come to terms with two sides of facing colonialism, the slave trade and apartheid.”
Alvin Ng
Alvin Ng describes his practice as “imaginative, non-linear storytelling that transcends the constraints of time.” His images are imbued with an aura of intimacy and mystery, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricate relationships between humankind, the natural world and the fluidity of time. Each shot straddles reality and fantasy, echoing ancient myths and legends that have almost been forgotten.
Foam Talent 2026 is at Foam, Amsterdam from 6 June – 26 August 2026: foam.org
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
1&5. Farren, 2024 © Farren van Wyk.
2. © Ali Monis Naqvi.
3. 13.homeless © Ammar Yassir.
4. Wenhao, 2025 © Ramona Jingru Wang.
6. The Doom of Chiron, 2022 © Alvin Ng.
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