Women Photographers, Exile and Resilience
International Women in Photo (IWPA) is delighted to announce the selected photographers of the 2nd edition of Voices in Motion, an international photography competition dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and exploring the experiences of exile, displacement, memory and resilience through visual storytelling.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the photographers who submitted their work to this year’s edition. The diversity of perspectives, artistic approaches and personal narratives reflects the extraordinary power of photography to document lived experiences, challenge established representations and foster dialogue across cultures and borders.
Our sincere gratitude also goes to the members of our jury for their commitment, sensitivity and thoughtful consideration throughout the selection process.
We warmly congratulate the selected artists, whose remarkable projects invite us to reconsider the meaning of home, belonging, identity and collective memory.
The Results – Voices in Motion 2026
Selected Photographers
We are proud to present four photographers whose work will be featured in the Voices in Motion: Women Photographers, Exile and Resilience exhibition in Paris.
Tina Massumi (Iran)
A Home Made of Us | 2023–2026
Through her photographic practice, Tina Massumi explores the meaning of home and the human connections through which a sense of belonging can be preserved and reconstructed.
Val Barros (Brazil)
Colonial Phantasmagorias | 2022–2026
Val Barros examines the enduring traces of colonial histories and their influence on contemporary identities, memories and representations.
Oleñka Carrasco (Venezuela)
ASILO: Nosotros Tierra Somos | 2022–2026
Oleñka Carrasco investigates the relationships between displacement, territory and memory, reflecting on the emotional and symbolic ties that connect individuals to the places they leave behind.
Myriam Cohenca (France–Palestine)
Finding Alquds | 2025–ongoing
Myriam Cohenca explores the connections between identity, memory and place, questioning how personal and collective histories shape our relationships with territories across distance and borders.
Recognising the Power of Visual Storytelling
The second edition of Voices in Motion highlights the essential role of women photographers in documenting and interpreting the realities of displacement.
Through documentary, conceptual and personal approaches, the selected projects demonstrate how photography can become a space for testimony, artistic expression and the preservation of memory.
Beyond the individual stories they tell, these works invite broader conversations about migration, cultural heritage, identity and the meaning of belonging.
IWPA celebrates not only the selected photographers but also every artist who contributed to this edition. Each submission represents a unique perspective and reinforces our conviction that visual storytelling can create meaningful connections between people, communities and cultures.
The Selection Process
The selection process focused on the artistic strength of the submitted projects, their originality, the coherence of their visual narratives and their ability to engage with the themes of exile, migration, identity and resilience.
The diversity of the submissions made the selection process both inspiring and challenging.
The selected works reflect different artistic languages and experiences while sharing a commitment to exploring stories that are often overlooked or underrepresented.
The Jury
We extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Voices in Motion 2026 jury for their time, expertise and dedication.
Their perspectives and engagement are essential to IWPA’s mission of supporting women photographers and promoting diverse artistic voices on an international stage.
Discover the Voices in Motion 2026 Jury
[Link to the jury page soon available]
From the Competition to the Exhibition
Voices in Motion: Women Photographers, Exile and Resilience
The four selected photographers will be presented in a collective exhibition organised by International Women in Photo (IWPA), as part of Photo Days 2026, with the support of the Sakura Endowment Fund.
Hosted by Galerie Odile Ouizeman in Paris, the exhibition brings together four distinct artistic perspectives on exile, memory, displacement and the reconstruction of identity.
Through their photographs, the artists explore what remains when individuals leave their homeland: memories, inherited gestures, emotional connections and the communities they build elsewhere.
The exhibition invites visitors to encounter these stories and reflect on the ways photography can preserve memory, challenge dominant narratives and create spaces for dialogue.
Exhibition dates: November 12 – December 12, 2026
Opening reception: Thursday, November 12, from 6 PM
Venue: Galerie Odile Ouizeman
8 rue Galvani, 75017 Paris, France
Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday, 2 PM–7 PM, by appointment.
Organised by: International Women in Photo (IWPA)
As part of: Photo Days 2026
With the support of: Sakura Endowment Fund
Thank You to Our Photography Community
To every photographer who shared her vision, experiences and creative work with us: thank you.
Your photographs remind us that images can transcend geographical boundaries, preserve histories and open new perspectives on the world.
Through Voices in Motion, IWPA remains committed to creating opportunities for women photographers to share their stories, reach new audiences and contribute to a more inclusive visual culture.
Congratulations to all the selected artists, and thank you to everyone who made this second edition possible!
