The international photography scene is bursting with activity as several significant exhibitions prepare to open their doors across three continents. From New York to Mexico City, and from Grenoble to Malmö, photographers are presenting works that challenge conventional boundaries and explore everything from culinary artistry to intimate personal narratives. These shows demonstrate photography's continued evolution as a powerful medium for storytelling and social commentary.
The World Food Photography Awards will launch its inaugural exhibition at Brooklyn's Empire Stores on January 11, 2026, marking the first time the competition's winning images will be displayed publicly in the United States. The exhibition, which runs through February 8, will feature stunning culinary photography that elevates food preparation and presentation to an art form. Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the National Museum of World Cultures is presenting Philippe Paquet's 'Mongolia: From the Gobi Desert to the Altai Mountains,' a sweeping documentary project that captures the stark beauty and cultural richness of Mongolia's diverse landscapes. This exhibition, open since August 14, 2025, will continue through January 31, 2026.
In Europe, the Lycée Champollion in Grenoble, France, is hosting a unique exploration of Michael Kenna's tree photography within the broader context of art and literature. Running from December 16, 2025, to January 22, 2026, this exhibition examines how Kenna's minimalist approach to photographing trees connects with centuries of artistic and literary traditions. Across the continent in Malmö, Sweden, Galleri Format is presenting Julian Slagman's provocative show, 'A Failed Attempt to Photograph Reality,' which questions the medium's relationship with truth and representation through December 5, 2025, to January 5, 2026.
The photography community is also mourning the loss of British photographer Martin Parr, who passed away recently at age 73. Parr, known for his satirical and anthropological examinations of modern life, leaves behind an influential body of work that documented British social classes and global tourism with unflinching honesty. His distinctive use of saturated color and flash photography revolutionized documentary photography. Additionally, the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris has digitized over 900 previously unseen images by Janine Niepce, the pioneering French photojournalist who captured everyday social life with remarkable humanism throughout her career. These newly available photographs, now exclusively distributed by Agence Roger-Viollet, offer fresh insights into Parisian life during the mid-20th century.
Contemporary photographers continue pushing boundaries in exciting ways. Hajar Benjida's intimate portrait series of Atlanta's strip club scene at Magic City is currently on view at Foam, presenting the performers as multifaceted individuals—entrepreneurs, mothers, and caregivers—rather than one-dimensional subjects. In Paris, the Italian Cultural Institute is showing Lia Pasqualino's 'Voir le coeur des humains' through January 30, 2026, an exhibition exploring emotional landscapes and childhood memories. Meanwhile, the Fondation Francès in Clichy presents 'Tout est politique !' featuring works by Nan Goldin, Raymond Depardon, Liu Bolin, and Spencer Tunick, examining how photography transforms the act of looking into political statement.
