With my series ‘Kids of the Gambia’ and the winning photo of National Geographic – After The Flood ’21, I was honored to receive The Premier Artist Prize 2025 award.
With a poignant photo from her series Kids of The Gambia, showing a young boy silently eating in a corner, and the powerful image After the Flood ’21, depicting a pastor in his mold-covered home – four weeks after a devastating flood – Wendy Leyten has been awarded the prestigious Premier Artist Prize 2025.
This exclusive international honor is only granted to artists who excel in artistic talent, vision, and dedication. The prize recognizes not only the technical and aesthetic quality of Wendy’s work but also its emotional and societal significance.
Both images seemingly depict different worlds – a boy in The Gambia and a pastor in Belgium – yet they touch upon a shared human experience: vulnerability, resilience, and quiet survival. In their simplicity and honesty, they uncover deeper layers of our society.
The selection for the Premier Artist Prize is by invitation only. Artists cannot apply; only the most remarkable and meaningful voices within the international art scene are directly approached for the award.
“This recognition is a confirmation that images can connect – regardless of language, country, or background.”
