Ingrid Pollard, Giant of British Black Arts Movement, Wins World’s Most Prestigious Photography Prize

Giant of British Black Arts Movement

Renowned photographer Ingrid Pollard, associated with the British Black Arts Movement from the 1980s, has been honoured with the prestigious #Hasselblad Award, the largest photography prize globally, carrying a substantial cash award exceeding $196,000.

Beyond the monetary recognition, Pollard earns the opportunity for a solo exhibition at the Hasselblad Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, slated to open on October 11, accompanied by a dedicated publication.

Hailing from Guyana and based in Britain, Pollard is celebrated for her evocative photographs that intricately intertwine British landscapes with Black individuals, unveiling hidden facets of Black British history not immediately apparent. This thematic exploration extends across Pollard’s work in various genres, showcasing her commitment to unveiling overlooked narratives.

A nominee for the 2022 Turner Prize, Pollard is currently exhibiting at Belsay Hall in Northumberland, presenting sculptures that seamlessly integrate natural materials like wood and slate into the indoor environment.

The Hasselblad Award jury, in their commendation, acknowledged Pollard’s unwavering engagement with colonial history and its enduring impact on society, both through her artistic endeavours and her role as an influential photography educator. They highlighted her profound influence on younger generations of artists and thinkers.

The Hasselblad Foundation’s citation regarding the Hasselblad Award laureate 2024, Ingrid Pollard:

In her four decades of practice Ingrid Pollard uses photography to question deeply engrained social and cultural constructs behind race, identity, community, and gender. Her work reveals subtle and starkly evident injustices through her engagement with the British landscape, iconography, and identity, as well as challenging the medium of photography and its history. Formally her work combines portraiture, found archival material, objects and text to produce complex installations. Born in Guyana and raised in Britain, she has consistently engaged with colonial history and how it continues to impact society, both in her artistic practice and as an educator in photography. Ingrid Pollard has a profound impact on younger generations of artists and thinkers.

Expressing her gratitude, Pollard stated, “Receiving the Hasselblad Award is a great honour. It comes at a point in my life when I’m quite mature, and it gives me an opportunity to support younger photographers and researchers, which I intend to do. I wish for the award to extend beyond myself.”

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