Joel Meyerowitz Receives Sony World Photography Award, Retrospective at Somerset House in 2026

In its 19th edition, the Sony World Photography Award has bestowed the Outstanding Contribution to Photography accolade upon Joel Meyerowitz, recognizing his substantial impact on the field. Born in New York City in 1938, Meyerowitz transitioned from an advertising art director to a photographer after meeting Robert Frank in 1962. He was a pioneer in embracing color photography at a time when black-and-white was favored. His portfolio features street photography, Cape Cod scenes, and the Ground Zero series, which captured the aftermath of the September 11th, 2001 attacks over nine months, resulting in 8,000 images. A significant retrospective will be held at Somerset House in London from April 17 to May 4, 2026, as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition, including installations by filmmaker Chris Ryan. Previous honorees include Edward Burtynsky, Graciela Iturbide, Sebastião Salgado, and Susan Meiselas. Meyerowitz’s "field photographs" focus on color, objects, and patterns, shifting from the "decisive moment" to depict the chaotic nature of daily life.