Ingrid Pollard, the renowned British contemporary photographer and artist, was awarded the Hasselblad Prize for 2024, becoming its 44th recipient. Pollard's work revolves around themes of memory, identity, and belonging, often explored through studies of the body, landscapes, migration, and beauty. A key focus of her practice is photography's historical and technical dimensions, particularly its use as an instrument of power and control.

Her career is marked by an exploration of the intersections between landscape and identity, as well as photography’s role in shaping historical narratives. Her iconic series, Pastoral Interlude (1987), challenges notions of “Englishness” by placing Black bodies within idyllic English countryside settings, exposing the colonial histories embedded in these landscapes. Her more recent works continue to explore themes of migration, representation, and the hidden histories of Britain's imperial past.

In recognition of her profound impact on photography and art, Pollard received a gold medal, a Hasselblad camera, and SEK 2,000,000. Pollard was celebrated during Hasselblad Award Week in Gothenburg, where she received the prize, held her first solo exhibition in Scandinavia, and enjoyed a concert performed by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

Pollard’s ouvre not only reflects on history but also creates space for contemporary conversations about power, identity, and representation, inspiring new generations of artists and thinkers. Her first solo exhibition in Sweden offers audiences a unique opportunity to engage with her thought-provoking exploration of photography’s capacity to reflect, challenge, and transform society. Ingrid Pollard was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1953 and grew up in London. She currently lives and works in Northumberland, northeast England.

Portrait taken by Emile Holba