Cpw saltzman prize awards emerging photographer sridhar balasubramaniyam

This year's CPW Saltzman Prize for Emerging Photographer has been awarded to Chennai-based artist Sridhar Balasubramaniyam for his project exploring the complex relationship between body and land.

Prize jury includes clément chéroux, carrie mae weems, and sarah meister

Balasubramaniyam, a performance artist and photographer with over a decade of experience working in Indian theaters, was chosen from a shortlist of ten international candidates. His work draws from the folk traditions, performance practices, and tribal wedding rituals of southern India's Dravidian communities.

The 2026 prize jury consisted of Clément Chéroux, Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson; Carrie Mae Weems; and Sarah Meister, Executive Director of Aperture.

Balasubramaniyam's project, Body and Land, has gained significant recognition, including the Alkazi Theatre Photography Grant and the Serendipity Photography Grant in 2020. His work was exhibited at the Alkazi Theatre Archives in 2022 and presented at the National Portrait Gallery in 2024.

In 2025, he was nominated for the Joop Masterclass, an educational initiative of World Press Photo, and was a finalist for KG+, the open-entry satellite festival of Kyotographie, in 2026.