Zanele Muholi

Zanele Muholi stands as a towering figure in contemporary visual activism, having fundamentally shifted the conversation around Black queer identity in South Africa and globally. Their achievement of winning the Hasselblad Award in 2026 marks a historic moment, placing them among the elite few to receive this prestigious honor. Beyond individual prizes, Muholi's true accolade lies in the creation of the Faces and Phases archive, a living library of hundreds of portraits that defies erasure. Their work has been acquired by major institutions worldwide, ensuring that their vision of resilience and beauty endures. The consistent recognition from bodies like the French government and the International Center of Photography underscores the universal power of their message.