2026 VMFA Aaron Siskind Award For Photography

The VMFA Aaron Siskind Award for Photography offers $25,000 each to two photographers completing a significant body of work, in honor of Aaron Siskind’s artistic legacy.

Overview

VMFA celebrates Aaron Siskind's artistic legacy, supports the practice of photography as a vital means of creative expression, and honors the role that the Aaron Siskind Foundation played in supporting photographers through the Individual Photographer's Fellowship.

The VMFA Aaron Siskind Award for Photography supports photographers working in still, image-based practices who are developing or completing significant long-term projects. The award focuses on projects that extend an existing body of work or bring a larger photographic idea to completion, including series, books, or exhibitions. It is open to artists at different career stages who have not yet received broad critical recognition.

Practical Info

The award is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents aged 18 and over whose primary practice is photography. Applicants must submit a CV, an artist statement, and a portfolio of 10–15 images, with the option to replace one image with a PDF book maquette. Both analog and digital work are accepted. AI use is allowed only if it is not the main creative input and must be disclosed.

Two recipients each receive an unrestricted $25,000 grant. The jury is composed of Nicole Acheampong, Kristen Lubben, and Brian Piper.

About Aaron Siskind Collection at VMFA

The award is presented by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), a major U.S. museum founded in 1936 in Richmond. VMFA holds one of the largest art collections in the country and is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting art across disciplines. The Siskind Award continues the legacy of photographer Aaron Siskind, whose foundation was integrated into VMFA’s photography program, ensuring long-term support for photographic practice and research.