Sabelo Mlangeni Wins James Barnor Prize 2026
From the series ‘Country Girls’
Congratulations to Sabelo Mlangeni, laureate of the third edition of the James Barnor Prize, announced on 8 July 2026 at Rencontres d'Arles with support from Sézane.
Working largely in black and white, Mlangeni has built his practice around intimate photographs of communities he feels connected to. His practice is built on intimacy, accountability, care and repair. His work surveys challenging and confounding aspects of experiences, anchored in South African and regional contexts.
From the series ‘Country Girls’
Mlangeni's practice has been widely exhibited internationally, including recent presentations at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. (2026), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York (2025), and the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia (2024).
From the series ‘Country Girls’
Photo:’s director, John Fleetwood, served as nominator for this edition of the Prize.
The jury also awarded a special mention to George Mahashe.
About the Prize:
Established in 2020 by James Barnor, the Foundation supports access to creative education, preservation of African cultural heritage, and promotion of African artistic talent. Launched in 2022, the James Barnor Prize recognises mid-career African photographers, with each edition focusing on a different region of the continent. The third edition was dedicated to Southern Africa.
13 July ‘26