A huge congratulations to Martina Holmberg and Melanie Grimsley on their momentous win at the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2025, held at the National Portrait Gallery in London last night. This is hugely significant – not just an amazing artistic achievement, but a powerful moment for representation of people with visible differences.
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize represents the very pinnacle of contemporary portraiture. Run by the National Portrait Gallery in London, it is one of the most prestigious portrait photography awards in the world. This year there were 5,910 entries from 2,054 photographers across 51 countries and recognises outstanding portraits – both technically and conceptually – and shines a light on portraiture that captures something meaningful about identity, society and human experience.
Melanie Grimsley and Martina Holmberg with the winning portrait
Martina Holmberg was named the winner for her portrait “Mel”, which is part of a series exploring visible differences, and the stories of people who live with them. Melanie is a burns-survivor, and one of our much-loved campaigners who is photographed with nuance, care and dignity. The portrait draws attention to the experience of living with visible difference—how people are seen, how they are perceived, how they feel—and invites the viewer to see beyond surface appearances. The judges praised the combination of “compassionate approach” and “technical skill”.
People with visible differences are still under-represented in the arts, media and society at large and when a major prize recognises such work, it sends a message: these lives, faces and stories matter.
It is a profoundly empowering moment for the visible difference community, showing that everyone deserves to be celebrated and included.