Joel Meyerowitz is announced as the recipient of the
prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography title of the Sony World
Photography Awards 2026, which honours the people that have shaped the history of
the medium. Meyerowitz is recognised for his diverse and expansive body of work, and
its extraordinary influence on the visual vocabulary of photography.
Joel Meyerowitz’s practice is marked by his observant eye, finely tuned to the currents
and textures of life. His work shows a fascination with life happening around him, and
a remarkable instinct for framing images that are at once revealing and enigmatic,
imbued with beauty and wit. Meyerowitz’s photographs direct the viewer’s gaze to the
parallel and interconnected stories that define a moment. The subjects of his
photographs are wide-ranging, from his iconic depictions of the bustle of city life, to
his depictions of coastal life and the vast seascapes of Cape Cod, through to his
pivotal series documenting all the work inside Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11,
and his recent self-portraiture. Over the years, Joel Meyerowitz has captured the
surprises that can be found by looking carefully at the scenes that surround us.
An early proponent of colour photography, Joel Meyerowitz was instrumental in
bringing this method to widespread recognition and use, and is credited for
expanding its global appreciation, establishing it as a fine art practice. His work since
the early 1960s has made him a leading figure in the history of 20th century
photography.
New York City, 1975 © Joel Meyerowitz
To mark the award, a special retrospective of works by Joel Meyerowitz will be shown
at
Somerset House, London, as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026
exhibition. This showcase offers an insight into the spirit and curiosity that has
characterised his practice for the past six decades. Through video and audio
installations, Meyerowitz invites visitors to see from his vantage point, recalling the
sense of wonder he experienced seeing the scenes in his images for the first time. In
several specially commissioned new video and audio installations created in
collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Chris Ryan, the photographer reflects on
the process of the making of specific images, as well as charting the trajectories of his
life, tracing the steps and creative turning points that have led him to the current
point. The exhibition will additionally present emblematic works from across
Meyerowitz’s career including his early street photography from New York and his
travels to Europe, his ‘field photographs,’ focused on the colours, objects and patterns
across the frame, photographs from his time in Cape Cod, and his coverage of
Ground Zero.
Born in New York City, USA in 1938, Joel Meyerowitz studied painting and medical
drawing at Ohio State University before working as an advertising art director. After
watching the Swiss-American photographer Robert Frank shoot an advertising project
for him in 1962, Meyerowitz immediately quit his job and went out onto the streets with
a borrowed camera and two rolls of colour film, and embarked on a career that
would make an indelible mark on the medium. While his early work was in colour, he
later added Black and White to his photography. Meyerowitz’s work forms an integral
part of the American photographic canon – it has appeared in over 350 exhibitions in
museums and galleries across the world, and has been published in 57 monographs.
Dairy Land, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1976 © Joel Meyerowitz
Commenting on his acceptance of the award, Joel Meyerowitz says: ‘I am honoured
to be selected as this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient. The
photographs I have made over the years show the world as I see it, and the moments
of beauty, humour and fun that can be found everywhere, if we take the opportunity
to look. I hope this exhibition will encourage visitors to look again at their surroundings
and engage with all of the life that unfolds around them.’
The Outstanding Contribution to Photography award recognises the voices behind
the most groundbreaking photographic work of our time. As its 19th recipient, Joel
Meyerowitz joins a distinguished list of names including Mary Ellen Mark (2014), Martin
Parr (2017), Graciela Iturbide (2021), Edward Burtynsky (2022), Sebastião Salgado
(2024) and Susan Meiselas (2025).
Meyerowitz will be presented with his award at the annual gala ceremony in London
on 16 April 2026, during an evening of celebrations where the overall winners of the
Sony World Photography Awards 2026 will be announced.
On the occasion of the exhibition a special talk with Joel Meyerowitz will take place on
21 April 2026.
Central Park, New York City, 1966 © Joel Meyerowitz
Joel Meyerowitz (b. New York, 1938) Is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in over 350
exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world. Celebrated as a pioneer of colour photography, he is a
two-time Guggenheim Fellow, a recipient of both National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the
Humanities awards, and a recipient of The Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal. He has published 57
books. Joel Meyerowitz is represented by Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York, Polka Galerie in Paris and
Huxley-Parlour Gallery in London. He lives and works in New York and in London.
www.joelmeyerowitz.com
@joel_meyerowitz
All About Joel Meyerowitz
SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Produced by Creo under its photography strand the World Photography Organisation, the internationally acclaimed
Sony World Photography Awards is one of the most important fixtures in the global photographic calendar. Now in
its 19th year, the free-to-enter Awards are a global voice for photography and provide a vital insight into
contemporary photography today. For both established and emerging artists, the Awards offer world-class
opportunities for exposure of their work. The Awards additionally recognise the world’s most influential artists
working in the medium through the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award; the acclaimed photographer
Joel Meyerowitz is the 2026 recipient of this award, joining a distinguished list of iconic names including William
Eggleston (2013), Mary Ellen Mark (2014), Martin Parr (2017), Graciela Iturbide (2021), Edward Burtynsky (2022),
Sebastião Salgado (2024) and Susan Meiselas (2025). The Awards showcase the works of winning and shortlisted
photographers at a prestigious annual exhibition at Somerset House, London.
worldphoto.org/exhibition
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY ORGANISATION
World Photography Organisation is a leading global platform dedicated to the development and advancement of
photographic culture. Its programming and competition initiatives provide valuable opportunities for artists working
in photography and help broaden the conversation around their work. The Sony World Photography Awards is the
World Photography Organisation’s principal programme. Established in 2007, it is one of the world’s biggest and
most prestigious photography competitions; celebrating the work of leading and emerging practitioners and
attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually to its exhibitions worldwide. World Photography Organisation is the
photography strand of Creo, which initiates events and programming across three sectors: photography, film and
contemporary art.
worldphoto.org
