January 2026 Photography Exhibitions Spotlight Emerging Artists Worldwide

Five major photography exhibitions opening in January 2026 showcase emerging artists navigating contemporary issues through the lens. MoMA's New Photography 2025: Lines of Belonging features 13 artists and collectives from Kathmandu, New Orleans, Johannesburg, and Mexico City, exploring themes of community and political history. South African artist Sabelo Mlangeni's statement about love guiding cultures from oppression to joy anchors the exhibition. Photo Elysee in Lausanne presents Gen Z: Shaping a New Gaze with 66 artists born between 1997 and 2012, addressing climate crisis, gender norms, and displacement. Fotografisk Center in Copenhagen hosts Young Danish Photography '25, featuring eight practitioners including Frederik Brogaard, Rasmus Degnbol, and Tilde Døssing who document climate and biodiversity crises. The Museum of Australian Photography in Melbourne exhibits Young: Youth in Australian Photography 1980s to Now, examining how cameras capture and influence youth experiences. KBr Fundación Mapfre in Barcelona showcases four Barcelona photography school graduates exploring memory construction through personal and public archives. These exhibitions collectively demonstrate photography's role as a tool for orientation, resistance, and reimagination in a world shaped by social media, artificial intelligence, and global uncertainty.