Qiana Mestrich is honoured with the Saltzman Prize 2025 by CPW

Created in 2024 by CPW Trustee Lisa Saltzman in honor of her art collectors and philanthropists parents, Ralph and Muriel Saltzman, the Saltzman Prize is dedicated to emerging photographers who are shaping contemporary times. This year, the prize goes to Qiana Mestrich, an interdisciplinary artist based in the Hudson Valley. Mestrich, founder of the blog Dodge Burn: Decolonizing Photography History, is also a photo historian and writer: her book, Decolonization and Diversity in Contemporary Photography: The Dodge Burn Interviews, was published by Routledge at the beginning of March. Qiana Mestrich receives a $10,000 award, the 2025 CPW Vision Award for Emerging Photographer, and a solo exhibition of her work at CPW in 2026.

As Brian Wallis, executive director of CPW said, “In her visual work, Qiana creates highly innovative collages that cleverly highlight neglected histories of women’s labor, racism, and mothering,” which made her the perfect choice for the the Saltzman Prize, which recognizes the contemporary voices who are shaping photography and visual culture. ”I m profoundly grateful to be woven into the enduring legacy of this remarkable art institution," says Mestrich, who was selected among nine other shortlisted outstanding artists: Rapheal Begay (Window Rock, Arizona), Samantha Box (Bronx, New York), Harlan Bozeman (Little Rock, Arkansas), Lucia Gorostegui (Madrid, Spain), Margot Kalach (Mexico City, Mexico), Dakota Mace (Madison, Wisconsin), Rene Matić (London, UK), Lindsay Perryman (Brooklyn, NY), Donavon Smallwood (New York, New York), Lindsay Perryman (Brooklyn, New York) and Donavon Smallwood (New York, New York).