Portrait of Burn Survivor Wins Prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
A powerful image capturing the resilience of a burn survivor has been awarded one of the world’s most esteemed photography accolades. The National Portrait Gallery announced Stockholm-based photographer Martina Holmberg as the winner of the 2025 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize for her striking portrait, “Mel,” earning her a £15,000 prize.
A Story of Resilience and Remembrance
Holmberg’s winning portrait depicts Mel, appearing lost in contemplation as soft light illuminates her skin, bearing the visible marks of profound trauma. The story behind the image is deeply moving: when Mel was just two years old, she and her sister were left in a car while their mother briefly entered a convenience store. Upon her return, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Tragically, Mel’s sister perished, while Mel survived with severe burns.
“The portrait really draws viewers into the sitter’s story,” a spokesperson for the NPG stated. Holmberg’s work is part of a larger series, “The Outside of the Inside,” which focuses on individuals with visible facial and physical differences. The NPG emphasized that the project serves as a tribute to the diversity of human appearance and sheds light on the discrimination faced by those with physical differences.
Celebrating Intimacy and Marginalized Voices
The Taylor Wessing Prize recognizes not only artistic merit but also the power of portraiture to tell compelling human stories. Luan Davide Gray, a London-based fine art photographer, secured second place and a £3,000 prize for “We Dare to Hug,” a black and white portrait showcasing a tender embrace between two men in their 60s. The image, described as evoking sculpture through its composition, captures a moment of mature intimacy.
“The portrait captured a moment of mature intimacy that defied conventional representations of physical closeness,” according to the NPG.
Third place, and a £2,000 prize, was awarded to Byron Mohammad Hamzah, an NHS consultant and photographic artist, for “Jaidi Playing.” This poignant image, part of the series “Bunga dan Tembok (The Flower and the Wall: The Stateless Youths of Semporna),” depicts a child, Jaidi, whose head is gently supported by the hands of another child. Hamzah’s work highlights the lives of stateless and marginalized youth in Sabah, East Malaysia, where he volunteers as an art and photography teacher. The NPG noted the portrait’s ability to capture a moment of tranquility amidst a challenging existence.
Commissioned Work Explores Gender and Tradition
In addition to the prize winners, Hollie Fernando, a photographer and director based in London and Brighton, received an £8,000 commission to create a new work for the NPG’s collection. Her portrait, “Boss Morris,” from the series “Hoydenish,” explores the evolving landscape of gender equality within the traditionally male-dominated world of morris dancing. The image features a young, all-female morris side adorned in folkloric attire. The judges praised the image’s striking and otherworldly aesthetic.
Exhibition Details
The winning portraits will be on display at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2025 exhibition, running from November 13, 2025, to February 8, 2026. The exhibition will also feature a new portrait of Lady Phyll, a prominent queer activist and advocate, by Jesse Navarre Vos, last year’s winner of the photographic commission. The 2025 judging panel included photographer and educator Sunil Gupta, art historian and curator Katy Hessel, photographer Tim Walker, and Sabina Jaskot-Gill, a senior curator of photography at the NPG.
