Press release | Amsterdam, October 2026    

The Foam Paul Huf Award is awarded to artists whose creative vision speaks to our current time and makes a significant contribution to today's photographic community. The winner receives a cash prize of €20.000 and a solo exhibition at Foam. Above all, the winner will see their name added to an impressive list of alumni. Previous winners include Felipe Romero Beltrán (2023), Lebohang Kganye (2022), Laia Abril (2020), Eric Gyamfi (2019), Daniel Shea (2018), Romain Mader (2017), Daisuke Yokota (2016), Alex Prager (2012), Pieter Hugo (2008), and Taryn Simon (2007). 

In 2025 the Foam Paul Huf Award was awarded to the photographer Myriam Boulos whose exhibition A Collective Diary: Sexual Fantasies will be on display at Foam from 23 October 2026 until 20 January 2027.

About the Jury

The chair of the jury is Aïda Muluneh (based in Ethiopia), a photographer, visual artist, educator, curator and cultural entrepreneur who works with local and international institutions. She is the founder of Addis Foto Fest, the first international photography festival in East Africa, held since 2010 in Addis Ababa, and the Africa Foto Fair, established in 2022 in Côte d'Ivoire. Her photography is held in major institutional collections including MoMA, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, the Hood Museum, and the RISD Museum. In 2019, Muluneh became the first Black woman to co-curate the Nobel Peace Prize exhibition, returning the following year as a commissioned artist. A Canon Ambassador, she is committed to advancing photography in Africa through education and professional development, and has established Africa Print House in Abidjan to support fine-art photography printing and creative production.

Ahmad Swaid (based in United Kingdom and UAE) is a publisher, magazine editor and creative consultant whose work shapes narratives across luxury and media. He held leadership positions at international titles including Garage Magazine and NOWNESS, before becoming Editor-in-Chief at GQ Middle East in 2022 and founding Dazed MENA as Editor-in-Chief in 2024. At GQ Middle East, he commissioned Deutsche Börse Photography Prize–winning artist Mohamed Bourouissa for his debut cover and published the landmark Men of the Year cover featuring photojournalist Motaz Azaiza. At Dazed MENA, he continues to platform image-makers from grassroots practitioners to established names, including Myriam Boulos, winner of the 2025 Foam Paul Huf Award.

Drew Sawyer (based in United States) is a historian and a curator, who holds the title of the Sondra Gilman Curator of Photography at the Whitney Museum of American Art. He has previously held curatorial positions at the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Columbus Museum of Art. His exhibitions include Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines (2023), Suneil Sanzgiri: Here the Earth Grows Gold (2023), Jimmy DeSana: Submission (2022), John Edmonds: A Slidelong Glance (2020), and Liz Johnson Artur: Dusha (2019). Sawyer holds a Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University.

Momo Okabe (based in Japan) is a photographer whose practice is deeply rooted in their lived experience. Their photobooks Dildo and Bible, both published by Session Press in 2014, explore intimate relationships with lovers, friends and others who identify as queer, work for which Momo received the Foam Paul Huf Award in 2015. Through candid and visceral photography, Momo probes the boundaries of identity, intimacy and society. Their later photobooks include IL MATAR (Mandarake, 2020) and MY BLOODY HAND (Little Big Man Books, 2025).

Sergio Valenzuela-Escobedo (based in Chile) is an artist, researcher and curator whose practice addresses questions of invisibility and the politics of the archive. He has curated international projects including Mapuche at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris and Monsanto: A Photographic Investigation, winner of the Paris Photo–Aperture Book Award and a finalist for the 2018 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. He holds a PhD from the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie (ENSP) in Arles and is currently Associate Curator of Bienal'25 do Porto and of the 2027 Guyane Biennale. He is Artistic Director of doubledummy, and his critical writing has appeared in Inframince, 1000 Words, and Artishock.

International experts

To produce an internationally representative selection, Foam approached twenty-four nominators from various parts of the world. Specialists and experts in the field of photography were each asked to nominate five talented mid-career photographers from their region of expertise. The award is open to upcoming photographers from all ages, working in all photographic genres: from documentary or applied photography to journalistic or independent work. The winner’s work must exhibit clear visual language and contribute significantly to today's photographic community in both form and content. 

Nominators

Abdelrahiem Shadad, Amin Yousefi, Andréa Holzherr, Demet Yıldız Dinçer, Elias Redstone, Emese Mucsi, Ibi Ibrahim, Kalpesh Lathigra, Lassana Igo Diarra, Lise Li, Luis Juárez, Malcolm Dickson, Meaghan Looram, Michael Mack, Mika Kobayashi, Nadine Isabel Henrich, Nkule Mabaso, Noelle Théard, Paula Kupfer, Raquel Villarperez, Renée Mussai, Sarkar Protick, Sohee Kim and Zippora Elders.

About Paul Huf

The award is inspired by the Dutch photographer Paul Huf (1924 – 2002) and his open and enthusiastic approach to new photography and upcoming talent – which is parallel to Foam's mission. Paul Huf was known for his innovative photographic technique, and he was personally involved in the establishment of Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam in 2001.

Previous winners

2025 – Myriam Boulos (1992, Lebanon)

2024 – Hiền Hoàng (1990, Vietnam)

2023 – Felipe Romero Beltrán (1992, Colombia)

2022 - Lebohang Kganye (1990, South-Africa)

2021 – John Edmonds (1989, United States)

2020 - Laia Abril (1986, Spain)

2019 - Eric Gyamfi (1990, Ghana)

2018 - Daniel Shea (1985, United States)

2017 - Romain Mader (1988, Switzerland)

2016 - Daisuke Yokota (1983, Japan)

2015 - Momo Okabe (1981, Japan)

2014 - Daniel Gordon (1980, United States)

2013 - Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs (1979, Switzerland)

2012 - Alex Prager (1979, United States)

2011 - Raphaël Dallaporta (1980, France)

2010 - Alexander Gronsky (1980, Estonia)

2009 - Leonie Hampton (1978, United Kingdom)

2008 - Pieter Hugo (1976, South Africa)

2007 - Mikhael Subotzky (1981, South Africa) and Taryn Simon (1975, United States)

The winner of the Foam Paul Huf Award 2026 will be announced on 12 November.

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