Why Wendy was awarded the Premier Artist Prize 2025

The Premier Artist Prize 2025 is one of the most prestigious international distinctions in contemporary art. Each year, only a select few artists worldwide are invited by a curatorial board seeking out exceptional voices whose work combines artistic excellence with emotional and social resonance. This year, Wendy Leyten was named a laureate for her ability to tell powerful, universal stories through photography that merges aesthetic depth with empathy and meaning.

Two works were central to the jury’s decision:
 Kids of The Gambia portrays the quiet stillness of a young boy eating alone in a corner — a deeply human image touching on themes of poverty, survival, and resilience, all without slipping into spectacle or pity.
After the Flood ’21 offers a poignant glimpse into the aftermath of a natural disaster in Belgium, where a priest stands amid his mold-covered home. The image speaks to grief, the loss of control, and the quiet strength to carry on.

Wendy’s power lies in her use of visual silence as a language. Her photographs don’t scream — they whisper. They invite the viewer to slow down, to reflect, to connect. In an age of noise and division, her work creates a space for stillness, compassion, and humanity. The jury praised her unique approach, where documentary photography intersects with artistic expression, and her commitment to giving voice to often-overlooked stories. This makes Wendy not only a gifted visual artist, but also a bridge-builder between worlds — which is exactly what the Premier Artist Prize seeks to honor.