2021 Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards, The Museum of Photography Seoul

Initiated in November 2012 by Aperture Foundation and Paris Photo, the awards celebrate the photobook’s contribution to the evolving narrative of photography with three major categories: First PhotoBook, PhotoBook of the Year, and Photography Catalogue of the Year.

“This year’s submissions faced more than eighteen months of unprecedented production challenges in scheduling and labor, access to material, and the uncertainty of another important element in bookmaking—the ability of artists, publishers, and their collaborators to come together,” observed 2021 shortlist juror Sonel Breslav. “It’s inspiring to witness the resilience of these artists, subjects, and communities. We’ve all had to learn to adapt in order to continue our work, finding new directions along the way.”

In shortlist juror and Aperture creative director Lesley A. Martin’s assessment: “The impact of the pandemic and of the other difficulties of the past year made themselves known in the notable number of very strong, introspective projects that brought forth material grounded in the studio, as well as those drawn from archives and older bodies of work.”

This year’s shortlist selection was made by a jury comprising: Emilie Boone, art historian; Sonel Breslav, director of fairs and editions, Printed Matter; Darius Himes, international head of photographs, Christie’s; Lesley A. Martin, creative director, Aperture Foundation; and Jody Quon, director of photography, New York Magazine.

A final jury in Paris selected this year’s winners. The jury included Aurélien Arbet, founder and creative director, Études; Daniel Blaufuks, visual artist; Taous R. Dahmani, art historian and author; Fannie Escoulen, head of the photographic department, Ministry of Culture, France; and Tatyana Franck, director, Photo Elysée.

To view this year’s shortlist click here.