Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 Longlist Showcases Contemporary Portraiture Exploring Identity and Psychology

The longlist for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2025 showcases artists delving into portraiture as a means of psychological inquiry. Berlin's Stephanie O'Connor investigates themes of memory and perception. From Athens, Foteini Zaglara produces surreal self-portraits that unveil aspects of human psychology. Venezuelan-British photographer Joel Rodriguez examines identity through cinematic visuals. Nigerian-American-Swedish artist Lola Akinmade Åkerström highlights the fusion of identities in her project ÅFRÖSWÈ̩DÉ̩. Tobias Meier merges surrealism with pop-art influences in the realms of fashion and advertising. Their works, which interrogate concepts of identity and belonging, will be featured in Aesthetica Magazine on 1 March 2026. Åkerström, a Hasselblad Heroine, has been recognized by BBC and National Geographic, while Zaglara has earned global honors. Phillip Prodger's book Face Time provides context for portraiture, emphasizing photography's role in representation and visibility.