Foam Paul Huf Award

The Foam Paul Huf Award is an internationally acclaimed photography prize, initiated by Foam, for photographers under the age of 35 from across the world.

Since 2007, Foam has awarded this prize to support and offer a platform to up-and-coming artists. In the years after receiving the award, the winners have made an international breakthrough, demonstrating that winning this title had a positive impact on their careers.

Winner Foam Paul Huf Award 2019

Eric Gyamfi (b. 1990, Ghana) is the winner of the thirteenth Foam Paul Huf Award. The jury selected Gyamfi out of 100 nominees from 24 countries. The prize consists of €20,000 and a solo exhibition at Foam. Additionally the work of the winner will be published in the next prestigious annual Talent Issue of Foam Magazine and be included in the internationally traveling group exhibition.


untitled, from the series Fixing shadows; Julius and I, 2018 - 2019 © Eric Gyamfi

The jury states:

“Eric Gyamfi was unanimously chosen as the winner of the Foam Paul Huf Award for his diverse artistic approach, the immersive nature of his work, and the combination of highly personal subject matter with an underlying political message.

We found a Trojan horse-like approach to his practice - beautiful, formal qualities with varied methods of production and a non-linear approach - which was refreshing and significant.

We are confident that this award will give him an incredible opportunity to expand his ideas and work with the curators to realise his first ever solo museum exhibition at Foam.”

Jury Foam Paul Huf Award 2019

The jury for 2019 consists of:

  • Tristan Lund (chair, independent art consultant and curator, United Kingdom)
  • Jop van Bennekom (creative director Fantastic Man, the Netherlands)
  • Bruno Ceschel (director Self Publish Be Happy, Italy)
  • Elena Navarro (director Centro de la Imagen, Mexico)
  • Azu Nwagbogu (chief curator Zeitz Mocaa, South Africa)


Jury Foam Paul Huf Award, 2019 © Marleen van Veen
(FLTR: Bruno Ceschel, Azu Nwagbogu, Tristan Lund, Elena Navarro, Job van Bennekom)

Nominations

To produce an internationally representative selection Foam approached around twenty nominators in various parts of the world. These nominators, specialists and experts in the field of photography, were each asked to select a number of talented photographers under the age of 35 in their own region. The award can be presented for any type of photography: from documentary or applied photography, to journalistic or independent work. The winner’s work must exhibit a clear visual language and distinguish itself in both form and content.

Previous Winners

2007: Taryn Simon, Mikhael Subotzky 
2008: Pieter Hugo 
2009: Léonie Hampton-Purchas 
2010: Alexander Gronsky 
2011: Raphaël Dallaporta
2012: Alex Prager 
2013: Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs 
2014: Daniel Gordon 
2015: Momo Okabe 
2016: Daisuke Yokota
2017: Romain Mader
2018: Daniel Shea

About Paul Huf

The title of the award refers to Dutch photographer Paul Huf (1924-2002) who had a special connection with Foam. Huf was involved in the establishment of the museum in 2001 and he was known for his open and enthusiastic approach to new photography and upcoming talent – a clear parallel with Foam's mission statement.

Foam is supported by the BankGiro Loterij, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Gemeente Amsterdam, Foam Members, Olympus and the VandenEnde Foundation.

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