Carrie Mae Weems was named the winner of the 2023 Hasselblad Prize, becoming the first black woman in history to win the prize, which includes 2 million Swedish kronor ($189,000). The honor is considered one of the most prestigious awards given in recognition of a living photographer. Past recipients include Nan Goldin, Miyako Ishiuchi, Graciela Iturbide, Alfredo Jaar, Cindy Sherman, Dayanita Singh and Wolfgang Tillmans. The Hasselblad center opened an exhibition of its work yesterday, accompanied by a publication.
Weems, born in Portland, Oregon, studied modern dance before turning to photography in his twenties. Through a practice that encompasses installation, film, performance and photography, Weems investigates issues involving politics, feminism and African American identity, in works that center on diverse personal experiences and historical archives.
In a press release, the Hasselblad Foundation praised Weems for anticipating “important issues of our time – the struggle for racial equality and human rights – with visual force and unflinching ethics, with an “artistic practice [that] is inherently activist, moving and lyrical."
Weems said in a statement: “Amidst the sweeping changes taking place in cultural institutions, and as the first African-American woman to receive the Hasselblad Prize, some may say, 'It's about time!' However, receiving the Hasselblad Award left me speechless,” continued Weems. “Being recognized comes with the ongoing responsibility to fulfill the promise made to myself and the field, which is to illuminate the darkest corners of our time and thereby, with a sense of grace and humility, illuminate a path forward.”