The Photo London 2026 Student Award has been awarded to Akanksya Dahal of Ravensbourne University London. Dahal was selected from a shortlist of four artists nominated by tutors at UK universities. The three other nominees were Anna Bradshaw of Birmingham City University, Bo Fan of London College of Communication, and Madison Hafner of Falmouth University.
Judging Panel
The judging panel comprised Fiona Shields, head of photography at the Guardian; Lisa Springer, curator of photography at the V&A; photographer Mimi Mollica; and Kimberly Hoang, picture editor at the British Red Cross. Photo London takes place at Olympia until 17 May.
Akanksya Dahal’s Winning Series
Dahal’s series, titled A Moment Left Unsaid: Stillness Amidst the Crowd, explores themes of quiet introspection in bustling environments. The work captures moments of personal reflection within public spaces, inviting viewers to consider the contrast between internal stillness and external chaos.
Anna Bradshaw: I Don’t Know Where You Start and I End
Bradshaw’s series delves into the complexities of twinhood, particularly in the context of epilepsy. She examines the paradox of individuality versus unity, and how medical uncertainty disrupts the symmetry of twin identities. Through photography and acts of concealment, the project becomes a form of art therapy, exploring vulnerability and the fragile boundary between two selves.
Bo Fan: Wandering in the Desire Room
Fan’s project reflects his experience growing up queer in East Asia, where a lack of sex education and public awareness fostered confusion and self-suppression. By reconstructing scenes from his adolescence, he brings overlooked memories to light. Self-portraiture becomes an act of self-exposure and self-repair, collapsing the roles of photographer, subject, and spectator to reclaim queer visibility.
Madison Hafner: Domestic Fictions
Hafner’s series playfully explores the space between the tangible and the fictional. Using intentionally imperfect sets and handmade paper props, she reinterprets everyday life from an altered perspective. Familiar domestic motifs are recreated as downsized replicas, suggesting that normalcy is constructed rather than fixed. The work disrupts the viewer’s sense of scale and dimensional space, creating imagery that is both familiar and artificial.
Photo London 2026 continues at Olympia London until 17 May, showcasing the best in contemporary photography from around the world.
