The Tokyo University of the Arts student received the ninth Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents for her series “Threshold”
Christian Dior Parfums, the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie (ENSP), and LUMA Arles have announced Akari Takenobu of Tokyo University of the Arts as the winner of the ninth Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents. Takenobu was recognized for her photographic series Threshold, with the winner selected by a jury chaired by British photographer David Sims.
The 2026 jury also included French photographer Vasantha Yogananthan, Julie Jones, Director of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, and longtime jury members Maja Hoffmann and Peter Philips. Established to support emerging photographers and visual artists, the annual award continues Dior’s investment in nurturing the next generation of creative talent through its partnerships with ENSP and LUMA Arles.
Takenobu’s practice combines photography with collage and installation, using what she describes as “pseudo-experiments” to investigate perception, memory, and the unseen. Drawing on paranormal experiences from her childhood, her work fragments and reconstructs the body, exploring themes of transformation, absence, and the boundary between reality and imagination.
By honoring Threshold, the 2026 edition of the award highlights work that challenges conventional photographic narratives while reinforcing Dior’s ongoing commitment to supporting experimental visual practices. The recognition further strengthens the award’s role as a platform for emerging artists at the intersection of photography and contemporary art.
