Rene Matić wins the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2026

Rene Matić was announced as the 2026 winner of the prestigious £30,000 prize at The Photographers’ Gallery, London on Thursday 14 May 2026.

The influential prize, presented in partnership with The Photographers’ Gallery, rewards artists and their projects recognised as having made the most significant contribution to international contemporary photography in Europe over the past 12 months.

Rene Matić (b. 1997, Peterborough, UK) was awarded the Prize for the exhibition “AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH”, at CCA Berlin, Germany (8 November 2024 – 15 February 2025). Featuring newly produced photographs, installations and sound pieces, “AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH” is rooted in identity and belonging, subculture, class and family. Matić’s diaristic, snapshot-like photography captures everyday moments with poetic intimacy. The photographs, combined with collected objects, film and sound, form a vivid and layered portrait of contemporary life.
Matić’s practice spans across photography, film and sculpture, converging in a meeting place they describe as "rude(ness)" – an evidencing and honouring of the in-between. In a climate of rising right-wing populism and performative compassion, they turn to interpersonal relationships as spaces of resistance and care, how people hold on to one another, and learn to live with vulnerability – despite, or in defiance of, so-called contemporary ‘truths’. For Matić, intimacy, vulnerability and desire become tools for survival.

Shoair Mavlian, Director of The Photographers’ Gallery, said: 
“We are delighted to announce Rene Matić as the winner of the 2026 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. 

Rene’s deeply personal work is rooted in community and belonging – and the power of both to heal and bring people together. Their raw and honest photographs bring the story of Britain today to audiences outside the UK. 

We have been thrilled to share Rene’s work with our visitors, alongside the other shortlisted artists. Many congratulations to Rene.” 

Anne-Marie Beckmann, Director of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, said: 
“Congratulations to Rene.

Rene’s photography captures everyday life with tenderness and intimacy. The importance of chosen family and community shines through. Rene’s photographs celebrate the togetherness of people – whether they are laughing, kissing or partying.

Rene’s project ‘AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH’ is a vivid, fluid portrait of contemporary life. Their experimental approach expands what photography is and how we experience it.
Many congratulations and thanks to the other shortlisted artists - Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka and Amak Mahmoodian.”

The shortlisted artists received £5,000. The exhibition showcasing work by all four shortlisted artists is on show at The Photographers’ Gallery until 7 June 2026. It will be on display from 3 September 2026 to 17 January 2027 at the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in Frankfurt/ Eschborn, Germany. 

This year’s Jury are: Anne-Marie Beckmann (Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation), Newsha Tavakolian (photographer and member of Magnum Photos), Elisa Medde (Director of the Foto Colectania Foundation in Barcelona, Spain; former Editor-in-Chief of Foam Magazine), Dr Mark Sealy (Autograph Gallery) and Shoair Mavlian (The Photographers’ Gallery) as voting chair.
 

Notes to Editors:
You can find an overview of the press images for the winner here. We will be happy to send you the press images in print quality upon request.
 

Media contacts: 

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation 
media.foundation@deutsche-boerse.com
Tel. +49 69 21 11 7014
                    
The Photographers’ Gallery
Robyn Deane
robyn@margaretlondon.com
Alex Finch
alex@margaretlondon.com 

About Rene Matić
Rene Matić (b. 1997, Peterborough, UK) is a London-based artist and writer. Matić uses documentary, diaristic style of photography, with snapshots of everyday moments and poetic juxtapositions, which are then used to create installations, grouping images to surreptitiously bring out buried tensions and paradoxes.
Recent solo exhibitions include “AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH”, CCA Berlin, Berlin; Rene Matić/Oscar Murillo “JAZZ”, Kunsthalle Wien Museumsquartier, Vienna; AT (2024); “a girl for the living room”, Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol, UK (2023); “upon this rock”, Kunstverein Gartenhaus, Vienna, AT (2023) and South London Gallery, London, UK (2022), “soul time”, Studio Voltaire, London UK (2022), “fags for countries that don’t exist but bodies that do”, Arcadia Missa, London, UK (2021). Their work has also featured in many group exhibitions and is in several prominent collections, including Tate, London and Foundation Louis Vuitton, Paris (FR); UK Government Art Collection, London (UK); Arts Council Collection, London (UK) and South London Gallery, London. Matić was nominated for the 2025 Turner Prize.

About the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and promoting contemporary photography. The Foundation is responsible for the development and presentation of the Art Collection Deutsche Börse, which now comprises over 2,400 photographic works by around 172 artists from 40 nations. It shows several public exhibitions a year in its exhibition space in Eschborn near Frankfurt am Main. The Foundation supports young artists through awards, scholarships or the annual talent programme of the Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam Foam. The Foundation also works on exhibitions with international museums and institutions, as well as creating platforms for academic dialogue and research on photography. 
www.deutscheboersephotographyfoundation.org

About the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize  
Founded in 1996 by The Photographers’ Gallery, and now in the 30th year, the Prize is one of the most prestigious international arts awards and has launched and established the careers of many photographers over the years. Previously known as the Citigroup Photography Prize, the Gallery has been in collaboration with Deutsche Börse Group since 2005. In 2016 the Prize was retitled the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, following the establishment of the Foundation as a non-profit organisation, dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and promoting contemporary photography. The winner of the 2025 Prize was Lindokuhle Sobekwa for his book I carry Her photo with Me (published by MACK in 2024). Past winners include: Lebohang Kganye, Samuel Fosso, Deana Lawson, Cao Fei, Mohamed Bourouissa, Susan Meiselas, Luke Willis Thompson, Dana Lixenberg, Trevor Paglen, Juergen Teller, Rineke Dijkstra, and Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin.

About the Photographers’ Gallery  
The Photographers’ Gallery explores how photography is connecting, captivating and radically changing our world today. The Gallery’s programme and spaces – from exhibitions, talks, workshops and digital platforms, to the galleries, shop and cafe – all explore the beauty, complexity and future of photography. Right outside the Gallery, the very best of contemporary photography is shown for free, day and night, in Soho Photography Quarter. 
www.tpg.org.uk