Key points
- Photo London 2025 celebrates its 10th anniversary with a landmark edition at Somerset House, bringing together top international galleries, collectors, and photographers.
- The Fair honors London's rich photographic culture through the special exhibition London Lives, featuring iconic and emerging artists who capture the spirit of the city.
- New sections like Discovery and Positions highlight cutting-edge talents and unrepresented photographers, redefining the future of the photography market.
- Visitors will experience photography beyond traditional prints, with works expanding into sculpture, performance, moving images, and sound.
- A dynamic Book Market, award programs, and curated talks further strengthen Photo London's role as a global hub for artistic innovation and community.
A milestone celebration at Somerset House
Photo London marks its 10th anniversary in 2025 with a landmark edition at Somerset House, celebrating a decade of bringing the best in international photography to the British capital. From May 15–18, with a VIP preview on May 14, the Fair will gather leading galleries, collectors, and artists from around the globe. Alongside the main exhibition, the special anniversary programme highlights London's vibrant photographic legacy and the medium's future possibilities, making this year's event one of the most anticipated yet.
This edition also coincides with Somerset House’s 25th anniversary as a leading cultural destination, making the celebration even more significant. Visitors can expect a vibrant atmosphere where the history of photography and the spirit of London itself come together in a unique, immersive experience.
Roberto Cavalli - "PASSAGES" In London / Best (145), 2023. Photography. 80 x 120 cm.
A global gathering of talent
This year's exhibitor list reflects a strong mix of returning galleries and exciting newcomers. Institutions such as CAMERA WORK (Berlin), Purdy Hicks Gallery (London), and Robert Hershkowitz Ltd (Lindfield) return with exceptional presentations, while new highlights include Amar Gallery's showcase of surrealist legend Dora Maar and UP Gallery’s promotion of Taipei-based artist Mia Liu. From Berlin to Buenos Aires, the fair captures a truly international spirit, with a notable focus on Latin and South American artists adding rich diversity to the line-up.
Solo booths will offer intimate encounters with contemporary visionaries like Tania Franco Klein, David de Beyter, and Robin Hunter Blake, showcasing the evolution of photographic practices across continents and generations. Every booth at Photo London 2025 promises a glimpse into both global traditions and emerging trends.
Lídia Vives - "Honey lips", 2013. Photography. 84 x 59 cm.
Discovery and positions: platforms for emerging voices
Discovery, curated once again by Charlotte Jansen, continues to champion emerging talent with around 20 dynamic galleries. Expect fresh perspectives from artists like Bee Gats, Lucia Pizzani, and Margriet Smulders, who are using the camera in increasingly painterly and experimental ways. This year’s Discovery section promises a noticeable shift away from traditional portraiture, favoring semi-abstraction and innovative storytelling techniques.
Meanwhile, the new Positions section, curated by Maria Sukkar, focuses on supporting unrepresented photographers. Featuring talents such as Adam Rouhana and Bibi Setareh Manavi, this platform is a bold move toward reshaping the art fair model. Positions not only offers these artists crucial visibility but also invites collectors and patrons to engage with new voices at critical points in their careers.
René Roeser - "Four Blue Gloves", 2022. Photography. 61 x 81 cm.
London at the heart: ‘London Lives’ special exhibition
For its anniversary edition, Photo London pays tribute to its host city with the ambitious exhibition London Lives. Curated by Francis Hodgson, the show features approximately 30 leading photographers—including David Bailey, Hannah Starkey, Nadav Kander, and Mary McCartney—who explore the vibrancy and complexity of life in London. With new commissions and iconic works, this exhibition is a love letter to one of the world’s most photographed—and most photographable—cities.
‘London Lives’ offers visitors a wide-ranging visual dialogue about the city’s layered identities, bustling energy, and cultural diversity. From Tower Bridge to the bustling streets of Soho, the exhibition captures not just the architecture but the spirit of London through the eyes of its finest image-makers.
Mathilde Oscar - "Smoking Kahlo", 2021. Photography. 60 x 40 cm.
Beyond the frame: sculpture, performance, and sound
Director Sophie Parker emphasizes that Photo London 2025 extends far beyond traditional wall-mounted photographs. Visitors will encounter works that blend photography with sculpture, performance, fabric, moving image, and sound, showcasing photography as a dynamic, multifaceted art form. Colin Dodgson’s solo show, presented by Belmond, highlights this expanded vision, featuring stunning images captured aboard Belmond’s iconic sleeper trains in Peru and Malaysia.
This interdisciplinary approach reflects a broader trend within the art world where photographers are increasingly engaging with physical space, materiality, and experiential storytelling. At Photo London 2025, visitors will witness how photography transforms when it merges with other artistic disciplines, offering new ways to experience and interpret the world.
Marta Lesniakowska - "Before the painting. After Thomas Ruff", 2014. Photography. 40 x 40 cm.
Celebrating the art of the book
This year introduces the inaugural Book Market, curated by Ben Goulder, celebrating the diversity and innovation of independent photography publishing. From conceptual experiments like Terminating Martin Parr by Tom Pope to Gareth McConnell’s mesmerizing images of Northern Ireland’s murals, the market champions a vibrant publishing culture that continues to push photography forward.
By showcasing zines, pamphlets, photobooks, and artist editions, the Book Market creates an accessible platform for both emerging and established publishers. It underscores the critical role of print in preserving photographic work and amplifying diverse voices within the art community.
Talks, awards, and a vision for the future
The Thames & Hudson-curated Talks Programme offers stimulating discussions, including conversations on queer photography, postcolonial narratives, and the evolving art of the photo book. Early highlights include talks with Zofia Kulik, Renée Mussai, and Mark Sealy, promising an engaging forum for critical dialogue and discovery.
In parallel, the Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award and the Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award continue to spotlight new talent. These awards not only offer exposure to early-career artists but also affirm Photo London’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of groundbreaking photographers.
Photo London: a fair that looks both back and ahead
As it celebrates ten remarkable years, Photo London 2025 stands as a testament to photography’s enduring power to innovate, inspire, and unite. With a rich programme that honors the past while eagerly embracing the future, this special edition promises to leave a lasting impression on all who attend.
By combining tradition with experimentation, and heritage with innovation, Photo London continues to shape the global conversation around photography. This milestone edition is not just a celebration of what has been achieved but an exciting glimpse into what lies ahead for the medium and its community.
FAQ
When and where is Photo London 2025 taking place?
Photo London 2025 will be held at Somerset House from May 15–18, with a VIP preview on May 14, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
What is the theme of the special anniversary programme?
The anniversary programme highlights London’s vibrant photographic legacy while exploring the future possibilities of photography, creating a unique immersive experience.
What is the Discovery section at Photo London 2025?
The Discovery section, curated by Charlotte Jansen, showcases emerging talent, with around 20 galleries featuring experimental and painterly photography techniques from artists like Bee Gats and Lucia Pizzani.
What is the 'London Lives' exhibition?
The 'London Lives' exhibition, curated by Francis Hodgson, celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of London through the works of 30 leading photographers, including David Bailey and Mary McCartney.
What new elements are being introduced at Photo London 2025?
Photo London 2025 introduces the inaugural Book Market, celebrating independent photography publishing, and features interdisciplinary works that blend photography with sculpture, performance, and sound.
Selena Mattei