PORTRAITS Hellerau Photography Award 2026

In the eleventh year of the PORTRAITS photography competition, the jury has selected entries from thirteen countries. The award’s main exhibition, centered on this year’s theme of “Escapism,” will be on view from November 6 through December 13 in the Motorenhalle at riesa efau.

From November 19 through December 20, the Residency Prize exhibition featuring this year’s winner, Mayya Kelova, will be on view in HELLERAU. Mayya Kelova is a visual artist who focuses primarily on photography. In her work, she explores the themes of belonging and migration through personal narratives.

The Residency Prize exhibition is open on all event days at the Festspielhaus Hellerau, one hour before and after each event.

Further information: portraits-hellerau.com

Mayya Kelova: “Under the Phasis’ Sun”

“Under the Phasis’ Sun” explores present-day Poti, a town in western Georgia shaped by colonization, extraction, and abandonment. The site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis, known in mythology as the destination of Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece, Poti developed over centuries as a port city with growing and changing importance. Yet today, this Black Sea port is experiencing severe economic decline, existing now in the shadow of nearby Batumi, where investment and tourism flow. Once a place of promise, Poti now stands among the world’s port cities distinguished by its poverty. In its recent history, the town has also seen the exodus of young people seeking opportunities elsewhere. The series was created as part of art residency “Black Sea” (შავი ზღვა) and was part of a group exhibition in Poti, Georgia in December 2023.