Between intimate portraits, visual experiments and documentary narratives, the 66th edition of the Picto Prize reveals a generation of photographers attentive to emotions.
For the 66th edition of the Picto Prize, a new generation of photographers presents unique visual styles, ranging from documentary to aesthetic experimentation. Between minimalist gentleness, explorations of the body, and perspectives on youth, these artists develop sensitive and demanding worlds that address contemporary social issues. We focused on six of them.
Adam Amouri
Adam Amouri is a former model turned photographer. He embarked on a quest for softness, drawing on the still-life work of Irving Penn and the portraits of Richard Avedon, who were adept at capturing raw emotion. He combines close-up portraits with a timeless aesthetic, their smooth, perfect surfaces prompting reflection on creativity and the essence of humanity. The Clock Stop series , created for the Prix Picto, strives for an almost natural perfection and a refined minimalism. By paying attention to every detail and retouching, he creates depth even in the simplest situations. Adam Amouri demonstrates that simplicity can be the foundation of a complex and demanding process, challenging both the photographer and the model.
He trained through minimalist compositions, determined to make photography a relevant and profound medium.
Jérémie Monnier
Born in Normandy and raised in a rural area, Jérémie Monnier was a curious young man who loved immersing himself in the adventurous stories of every book and film he discovered. He began his photographic journey with still life, which allowed him considerable freedom in both narrative and technique. Teenage Portraits documents the teenagers of the Évariste Galois middle school in Breteuil-sur-Iton, a small, isolated village in Normandy. Through minimalist portraits, he creates a moment in which the young people, almost always in groups, are isolated, revealing their personalities and character traits. Between vulnerability and intense gazes, the young people convey through their facial expressions a certain marginalization from society due to their financial insecurity. These weighty, even intimidating, portraits illuminate the silence behind this discriminatory system.
Karen Faurie
Paris-based photographer Karen Faurie imbues her photos with a vibrant energy thanks to the soft colors of her subtly mysterious aesthetic. Her narratives, always distinctly feminine and authentic, oscillate between portraits and still lifes.
Common Beauty, translated into French as "Beauté commune," was conceived as an intimate story focused on the poetry of everyday life. Close-ups invite us to appreciate the beauty in every seemingly insignificant detail. Karen Faurie creates an ode to contemplation and self-sufficiency, which consists of appreciating what we already possess, whether it be our bodies or the everyday elements that surround us. Carried away by spontaneity, Karen Faurie gives free rein to her intuitions, with a deliberate and imperfect gesture.
Cassandre Lafon
Cassandre Lafon is a photographer working in Paris. Moved by the authenticity of the family videos filmed by her mother, Cassandre draws inspiration for her film projects from everyday life. " La Chapelle" (The Chapel) is a series of 50 silver gelatin photographs taken between 2023 and 2025 on a subway platform. By documenting the fleeting moments of these individuals pressed against the subway window, Cassandre invites us to adopt a new perspective on the body. A certain poetry emanates from these portraits, which appear as staged scenes. From a hand to strands of hair, the small, singular details of each individual contribute to a collective project built on identity.
Maud Rallière
Maud Rallière is a French photographer and filmmaker, born in 1998. Today, her photography explores the body as a medium, exploiting the senses and a raw sensitivity. Between smooth textures and highly contrasting plays of light, Maud's editorial compositions develop a raw and sensitive aesthetic. The series "The Discomfort of Beauty" highlights raw images that prompt reflection. The exposed bodies, the focus on texture, and the stark lighting convey a desire to escape perfect beauty. The elegance of black and white counterbalances the obscene images, shifting the focus from physical beauty to a more subtle principle related to feelings. Every habit associated with beauty gives rise to an uncomfortable process, because it breaks with the result itself.
Sarfo Emmanuel Annor
Sarfo Emmanuel Annor is a Ghanaian visual artist who uses color to create imaginative narratives. He collects vibrant images of local youth, showcasing a different facet of African culture. His dialogue with a global audience is based on a new representation of Africa through art.
Youthful Spirits speaks of resilience in the face of the challenges faced by the young people of Koforidua. The masterful use of vibrant colors and contrasts captivates the viewer. Adolescence and youth are central themes; concealed faces and bound, knotted ropes serve as a metaphor for a universal theme: the vulnerability of children and adolescents in relation to their own future and that of the community. This pivotal moment in youth is portrayed as a struggle against social pressures and barriers.
Through these diverse worlds, the Picto Prize highlights contemporary photography driven by introspection, sensitivity, and visual experimentation. The artists share a common goal: to use images as a means of telling a different story about reality. Between poetry and aesthetic commitment, their work reveals a generation of photographers attentive to detail.
