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Crespo Foundation

PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE

After Nature · Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize

Together with C/O Berlin, the Crespo Foundation has launched the ‘After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize’. Since 2024, the prize, endowed with 80,000 euros, has been awarded annually to two international artists who use photography and image-based media to respond to the changing ecology of the present and explore new concepts of nature and art.

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The Prize

The ‘After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize’, endowed with a total of 80,000 euros, is awarded annually to two artists whose work questions the relationship between man, nature and technology. It is the second highest endowed prize in the field of photography in Europe. In addition to the prize, it includes an exhibition at C/O Berlin – a renowned exhibition venue for photography and visual media – and at Crespo Open Space in Frankfurt, as well as an accompanying publication.

It is named after the founder and photographer Ulrike Crespo. In numerous photographic series, she has intensively explored the themes of landscape and nature and in her works presents a natural world that appears both impressive and fragile in the face of the increasingly noticeable effects of the climate crisis.

After Nature

‘After Nature’ opens up a dual perspective on the relationship between photography and nature. The award supports projects that explore landscapes in the Anthropocene. They view photography itself as an ecological practice or adopt new perspectives that go beyond the human and explore alternative forms of life and nature.

In the Anthropocene, humanity has a responsibility to shape a new understanding of humans, nature and technology. In view of the global impact of capitalism on the ecosystem, conventional ideas are beginning to falter. The climate crisis makes it clear that nature can no longer simply be regarded as untouched, but is strongly influenced by human activity and closely interwoven with social and political aspects.

‘We are addressing one of the most important issues of our time with the After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize.’

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Stefan Erfurt, chair of the C/O Berlin board

Exhibitions

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The ‘After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize’, initiated in collaboration with C/O Berlin, was presented in 2025 to Lisa Barnard (1967, United Kingdom) and Isadora Romero (1987, Ecuador).

The exhibitions ‘You Only Look Once’ by Lisa Barnard and ‘Notes on How to Build a Forest’ by Isadora Romero will be on view at the Crespo Open Space, opening up two artistic perspectives on the interplay between nature, technology, and society.

The jury included Tomáš Dvořák (Associate Professor, Department of Photography, FAMU, Prague), Zippora Elders (Freelance Curator), Boaz Levin (Curator and Co-Program Director, C/O Berlin), Hinde Haest (Curator, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), Michelle Henning (Professor of Photography and Media, University of Liverpool), Maria-Kyveli Mavrokordopoulou (Research Associate, VU University Amsterdam), Christiane Riedel (Director, Crespo Foundation), Katharina Täschner (Junior Curator, C/O Berlin). The decision was unanimous and was based on the nominations of 12 international experts.

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After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize 24

Laura Huertas Millán and Sarker Protick are the winners of the ‘After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize’ in 2024. Their joint exhibition, ‘Curanderxs’ (Laura Huertas Millán) and ‘অঙ্গার . Awngar’ (Sarker Protick), was on display at C/O Berlin until January 2025 and at Crespo Open Space from February to May 2025.

The jury included Lewis Chaplin (co-founder, Loose Joints Publishing), Martin Guinard (curator, LUMA Arles), Hajra Haider Karrar (curator, SAVVY Contemporary), Iris Sikking (curator, Fotomuseum, Den Haag), Olga Smith (Newcastle University) as well as Christiane Riedel (Director, Crespo Foundation), Sophia Greiff (Co-Program Director, C/O Berlin Foundation) and Katharina Täschner (Junior Curator, C/O Berlin Foundation). The decision was unanimous and was based on the nominations of 15 international experts.

‘Ulrike Crespo shows a deep understanding of nature in her own photos. Together with C/O Berlin we are carrying on her artistic commitment in this area.’

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Professor Christiane Riedel, chair of the Crespo Foundation

Partner

The ‘After Nature . Ulrike Crespo Photography Prize’ will be jointly awarded by the Crespo Foundation and C/O Berlin Foundation from 2024 onwards. In its capacity as an exhibition venue for photography and visual media, the C/O Berlin Foundation will be responsible for implementing the project.

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CONTACTS

Ben Livne Weitzman
Crespo Foundation