FotoFest 2026 Biennial Celebrates 40 Years of Photography

FotoFest's 2026 biennial, 'Global Visions: FotoFest at 40,' opened in March in Houston, marking the festival's 40th anniversary. Curated by cofounder Wendy Watriss, executive director Steven Evans, and cocurators Annick Dekiouk and Madi Murphy, the exhibition is organized chronologically across FotoFest's twenty previous iterations from 1986 to 2024. Over 600 works from past biennials are displayed at Silver Street and Winter Street Studios in Sawyer Yards, featuring more than 450 artists from over 58 countries. The 1986 biennial introduced non-American artists, including Paul Graham and Martin Parr. The 1990 biennial showcased clandestine Czechoslovak photography. The 1994 edition highlighted Latino photography in the US. The 2002 biennial juxtaposed analog and digital photography, featuring MANUAL's work. Environmental themes dominated the 2004 and 2006 biennials. The 2010 biennial critiqued US wars with works by An-My Lê, Trevor Paglen, and Richard Mosse. The 2014 biennial focused on Arab photography, including Sama Alshaibi. The 2022 biennial addressed social justice, featuring Dorothea Lange and Tōyō Miyatake. The 2024 biennial explored critical geography. New commissions by Shavon Aja Morris and André Ramos-Woodard are presented at Project Row Houses. The biennial runs through May 10, 2026.