The 15th edition of the MIA Photo Fair BNP Paribas honored artists and galleries thanks to the support of its sponsors and patrons.
Hector Zamora wins the BNL BNP Paribas Award
The fair’s top prize, the BNL BNP Paribas Award, was awarded to Mexican artist Hector Zamora for his work Sciame di dirigibili ( Fleet of Airships) (2026), presented by the Albarrán Bourdais gallery.
The jury, which included Francesca Malgara, Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, and Sam Stourdzé, praised the artist’s ability to “transform reality” through a work inspired by surrealism.
The Italian branch of BNL BNP Paribas reaffirms its commitment to photography. Hector Zamora’s work thus joins the bank’s corporate collection, which comprises several thousand pieces.
Belgian gallery VUE honored for its exhibition
Just three months after opening in Uccle, the VUE gallery has already received an award for Julie Scheurweghs’ exhibition “Maman est là.” With this inaugural exhibition, the gallery establishes a feminist artistic, aesthetic, and political direction centered on championing women, lesbian, transgender, and non-binary artists. It also demonstrates meticulous curatorial care—a primary concern of the Casa Museo Molinario Colombari Award, which has awarded it the second edition of an original prize given to the best booth at the Milan fair. ,
The jury included several prominent figures from the worlds of photography and collecting, among them Ettore Molinario, Matthias Harder, director of the Helmut Newton Foundation, and Chiara Agradi of the Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art.
By recognizing an exhibition project in its entirety, this award highlights the growing emphasis on curatorial approaches within art fairs, some of which are conceived as genuine spaces for artistic storytelling rather than mere commercial platforms.
Gleeson Paulino Honored with the miramART Award
The 2026 miramART Award was presented to Brazilian artist Gleeson Paulino, represented by Chroma Orma Gallery, in the fair’s FOCUS section, curated by Rischa Paterlini.
Presented by the cultural association miramART Collection, this award recognizes both the immediate impact and the complexity of the artist’s visual language. The selection of a young Brazilian photographer also underscores the award’s commitment to supporting artistic scenes where photography functions as a living narrative tool, capable of exploring questions of identity, corporeality, and our relationship with the environment. I
The acquired work will join the miramART collection and will be exhibited at the Grand Hotel Miramare, before being featured in the collection’s annual catalog. The prize is supported by collectors Andrea and Fabio Fustinoni, founders of the initiative.
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