About OD Photo Prize

Open Doors Gallery and our partners are delighted to invite you to submit your projects to OD Photo Prize 2024. This annual competition was set up to discover the best emerging photographic talent from around the world. Submissions to this prize must be from artists using photography who are also working within the first ten years of their practise.

For over a decade now, ODG has dedicated itself to the discovery & mentorship of early career artists working across the full spectrum of contemporary photography. From Kensuke Koike's sculptural alchemy to Maria Lax's iconic and cinematic storytelling, right through to pioneers in new areas of photographic art such as Sander Coers. Over the past decade the gallery has exhibited these artists widely through our program of pop–ups and art fairs here in London and beyond. Raising the profiles of our artists... We pride ourselves on discovering and nurturing the best talent out there. OD Photo Prize is an extension of this mission, which looks to widen our search for talent and to help foster long-term relationships with artists more globally.

This year's Winner will receive an increased cash prize thanks to the continued support of our partners, as well as a listing amongst our roster of artists for at least a year. Whilst all Shortlisted artists will be invited to participate in a group exhibition hosted by Open Doors Gallery in London, November. Read on to find out more.

Artists are also eligible for a variety of awards chosen by our panel of influential industry experts in the field of photography. From having work singled out by each jury member as one of the 'Judges's Picks' to the Metro Mentorship award selected by artist and creative director, Professor Steve MacLeod. This year we are also excited to introduce a new partnership with InCadaques Festival [find out more details below].

There has never been a better time to submit your projects to OD Photo Prize. With more opportunities on offer than ever before and a proven record working with artists, this open call offers a unique platform for emerging and early career artists of all ages, backgrounds & styles... We can't wait to see your work.

OD Photo Prize was founded by Open Doors Gallery, UK, in 2021.

Building Momentum

"The Open Doors Photo Prize allowed me to further advance my practice by providing the necessary funds to purchase equipment and enhance the quality of my work. With support from Metro Imaging and MPB, I was able to take on larger and more complex projects. The prize has been instrumental in fostering innovation and helping me reach a wider audience."

– Patricia Voulgaris, 2024 [OD Photo Prize | 2023 Winner]

Each year we look at the development and career progression of artists who have been Longlisted for the prize in the past. Below are some highlights from their long list of achievements over the past year...

Sander Coers | FOAM Talent 24-25, Photo London, 2024, Athens Photo Festival, 2024
Svante Gullichsen | Photo London, 2024
Emilia Martin | Athens Photo Festival, 2024
Gloria Oyarzabal | ARCO 2024, Madrid
Owen McCarter | Exhibited, Palm* Photo Prize
Laura Chen & Yuxing Chen | Recommended by OD to the Global SinoPhoto Awards, 2024 where they were both highly commended and exhibited in a group show at Christie's, London.
Amin Yousefi | Peckham24, London, & Belfast Photo Festival
Marisol Mendez | FOAM Talent 24-25 & published with Setanta Books
Elliott Verdier | Has been working on new work in remote locations around the world
Lina Geoushy | Rencontres d'Arles festival, France, Peckham24, London, Photo London fair
Chloé Milos Azzopardi | We continue to watch Chloé's work go from strength to strength ever since her first submission back in 2021. With exhibitions & residencies all across Europe, we are excited about what this brilliant young artist does next.

Open Doors Gallery is always looking for new talent that fits into our talented roster of artists and OD Photo Prize is often the best place for us to find it. Last year we were delighted to start working with Shortlisted artist Sander Coers who went from strength to strength post Prize with a succession of accolades and exhibitions. Culminating in a presentation with Open Doors Gallery at Photo London 2024 where he was shortlisted for the Emerging Photographer Award. Sander Coers is now represented in the UK by ODG.

What you could win

Grand Prize:

£2,000 prize
Includes £1,000 cash prize supported by Open Doors Gallery
Includes £500 print credit supported by Metro Imaging
Includes £500 credit supported by MPB
An exclusive interview will be presented on the 1000Words Magazine website in conjunction with the Winner announcement
Long term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery
Listed on the OD Artist page & Artsy platform for at least one year, presenting available artworks from their submitted projects
Exhibited in London as part of the OD Photo Prize group exhibition

2 x Runners-Up:

Long term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery
Invited to be listed on the OD Artist page & Artsy platform for at least one year, presenting available artwork from their submitted projects
Exhibited in London as part of the OD Photo Prize group exhibition

Metro Mentorship Award:

Tailored mentorship programme designed to support the awarded artist through any aspect of their career development which they deem vital
A unique opportunity to gain ongoing 1:1 advice and guidance from Professor Steve Macleod, Creative Director at Metro Imaging, to help nurture and expand their practice

Juror's Choice Awards:

Each member of the Jury will have the opportunity to select one artist from the Longlist that they feel deserves a special mention [and the opportunity to be exhibited at the OD Photo Prize exhibition]

InCadaques Award:

This year we are delighted to introduce the InCadaques Award
The founders and directors of this renowned Festival in Spain [also on our Jury this year] will select one artist from the Longlist to exhibit in some form at next year's Festival
The form this presentation will take will depend on the nature of the work presented [so an exhibition, projection, installation etc.]

AJ Page Award:

The People's Choice award is for exceptional single images selected by Open Doors Gallery from this years Longlist of artists
The 10 artworks selected will be posted to the @odtakeovers feed and voted for in the comments by the public
At least one will then be included in the OD Photo Prize group exhibition and online show

Shortlisted Artists will receive the following support and opportunities:

Having their work produced for a group exhibition hosted by Open Doors Gallery in London, Nov—Dec - 2024 [Dates & venue TBC]
Exhibited in London and also online gaining exposure to the Open Doors Gallery collector base
Exhibition exposure to a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media
Inclusion in the gallery website announcement and dedicated newsletter
Their projects viewed and considered by our panel of leading industry experts
Their work shared with our 100,000+ social media following
Inclusion in an ongoing community and support network facilitated by Open Doors Gallery

About Open Doors Gallery

Open Doors Gallery is a global platform for emerging contemporary photographic artists. Representing and developing the careers of several award winning artists, each with their own unique approach to the medium. From mixed media and sculptural artworks to darkroom creations and documentary work. We believe the limitless possibilities of the photographic medium make it the perfect prism through which to explore the world and to build a collection.

OD believes in making art accessible and affordable. With no permanent fixed location, we display our artists' work regularly through our programme of Art Fairs, exhibitions, events & publications throughout the year.

OD has a strong presence online [@odtakeovers & @odprintsales] choosing to showcase a wide variety of styles from within and beyond our family of represented artists. We work towards broadening people's understanding of the potential within this dynamic & exciting medium. For both collectors & enthusiasts. Whilst all the while emphasising the enormous array of talent that is coming through. The OD Photo Prize is one way that we hope to achieve that.

How to Enter

Submissions must be in project form
Must submit between 6–15 images per submission
Artists must be working within the first ten years of their practise

Judging Criteria

OD Photo Prize is open themed. We greatly encourage submissions from artists working across all forms of photographic art: this includes, but is not limited to, storytelling, narrative, social documentary, construction, archival, conceptual or theoretical practices. Submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can incorporate other art forms (i.e. performance, collage, painting, sculpture, music, literature etc), and may result in unique artworks.

The final selection of artists from the open call will be made in collaboration between the Jury and Open Doors Gallery. Alongside the Grand Prize Winner and two Runners Up there will be up to 25 artists invited to participate in the OD Photo Prize 2024 exhibition in November.

Successful entrants will be notified by email in mid-September 2024 with information regarding the following steps towards publication and exhibition. A list of selected applicants and awardees will be published on Open Doors Gallery's social media channels and website. The decision on successful entrants is final.

Words from our Winners

"Being included in the OD Photo Prize has significantly boosted my photography career. When my project POST was selected as a judge's pick by Rosie Wadey in the 2023 edition, it opened up a lot of opportunities for me. This recognition not only helped me gain visibility among an international network of photography enthusiasts but also led to my representation by Open Doors Gallery. Recently, I had the experience of exhibiting with them at Photo London, which was a milestone moment in my career. The support and exposure from the OD Photo Prize have been invaluable in advancing my professional journey."

— Sander Coers [Judge's Pick, 2023]

“Winning the 2022 OD Photo Prize was a significant validation of many years working on what has now become, ‘They Still Owe Him a Boat’. The prize provided me with a wonderful platform and network for my work to be seen, engaged with, and then exhibited – which was a very special moment for me. It has been a great source of encouragement during the final stages of this work and has reinforced my belief in the caliber and importance of it. The competition is a great way to connect with a lot of talented photographers and I am immensely appreciative of Tom and everyone at Open Doors for the many ways they continue to provide guidance, access, and support through the OD Photo Prize.”

— Jono Terry [OD Photo Prize | 2022 Winner]

“When I received the OD Photo Prize in 2021, my project ‘Teetering like a September myth’ was still in its infancy, with only a handful of close friends even knowing that it existed. The support I received from Tom and Steve in the following months would be instrumental to my completing the work and releasing it as a book the following year. As an emerging artist still finding my feet in many ways, the OD Photo Prize and exhibition have been really important entry-points into showing my work publicly and I’ll forever hold this experience as a pivotal point in the early stage of my career.”

— Angus Scott [OD Photo Prize | 2021 Winner]

"Participating in the Open Doors Photo Prize propelled my work into new realms of recognition and opportunity. But the prize is more than just exposure; it stands for a community of passionate creatives who push the boundaries of visual storytelling. I feel fortunate to share my work on such a grand stage and to connect with fellow artists who are dedicated to elevating the art of photography."

— Marisol Mendez [Shortlisted Artist, 2021]