Foam Talent 2026

Society is up against a wealth of threats that seem never to stop coming. Through the countless challenges humanity currently faces — mental health, political oppression, religious belief, loss of agency, technological weaponisation, and more — the photographers on display choose to illustrate the search for a sense of belonging. A sanctuary in the storm. Through powerful visual dialogue and evocative storytelling, they examine the meaning of ‘home’, not as a fixed structure but as something felt within: through community, healing and emotional foundations. This through line, the search for safety in a world corrupted by chaos, invites observers to internally digest and analyse what that means for them.

There are several names to highlight, but we’ve rounded up our top five artists you can’t miss at this showcase. These are some of the names shaping the future of image-making, and the ones who’ll soon be making waves through their work. Artists who delve into the relentless pursuit of finding safety in a world trying to strip them of that very feeling, and who hold a mirror to our own lives.

His work focuses on depicting the unfiltered reality of life in Palestine. Adam Rouhana captures the simple pleasures of everyday moments, which act as a form of resistance against the authoritarian system imposed on residents. Under Israeli command, citizens are dehumanised and stripped of their freedom, and Rouhana shows the heartbreaking reality they are trapped in. The work of this American-Palestinian artist treads the line between survival and tranquillity as he searches for the meaning of existence and seeks hope for the future.

Playing with light and perception, Ramona Jingru Wang investigates the emotional complexity of human relationships and connections. A sense of wonder pulsates through the Chinese artist’s work; according to her images, we are a composition of the people and spaces around us. Wang analyses the genuine trust and compassion that arise when we build a community on a foundation of comfort and authenticity. Her work aims to understand how images become intertwined with reality.

Paris-based Bolivian photographer Daniel Mebarek anchors his work to his roots, reflecting on the urbanisation and socio-political dynamics of the contemporary landscape so fondly ingrained in memories of his childhood. His images honour the indigenous communities still living in this environment and fighting to keep their shared sense of belonging despite cultural and economic globalisation. Mebarek challenges stereotypical portrayals of his home and offers new, honest perspectives.

Sara De Brito Faustino conveys an unsettling yet compelling visual narrative as she reflects on her own journey. Fragility becomes strength. Artistic expression is how the Swiss photographer heals her inner self. By deconstructing and rebuilding her memory, she reclaims control of her story. Light and shadow highlight the raw intimacy of the scene you are witnessing and bring to the surface the uncanny tension bubbling beneath.

Sudanese photographer and filmmaker Ammar Yassir explores the lives of refugees like himself forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing war in Sudan. Documenting life in exile, the depth behind his images examines feelings of grief, loss and trauma that erupt from displacement. Identity and the safety of familiarity are lost, and a vulnerable, dangerous journey is endured to find asylum. Yassir reflects on the meaning of home and rebuilding from devastation.