Artist
Tengbeh Kamara
Tengbeh Kamara is a Dutch-Liberian photographer (1996) based in Amsterdam. Their portrait and documentary work explores intimacy, memory, and identity.
Tengbeh’s artistic practice balances between documentary, autobiographical and political fields. Being a black and queer photographer, Tengbeh often documents those experiences. However, Their curiosity also draws them to explore more identities and social issues than just their own.
Tengbeh is part of a new generation of photographers characterized by their inclusive, daring and critical eyes. Tengbeh makes visible what has systematically been ignored, resulting in beautiful, powerful and colorful photographs.
Portrait of Tengbeh Kamara by Sophie Engels
Why You Left, Who You Left
For Kamara, the father’s return was initially understood as a heroic act of rebuilding the country he loved. For those around the family, it was an incomprehensible abandonment.
This conflict forms the core of the work. "Why You Left – Who You Left" looks at what it means to leave and to stay. In public debates about refugees, people often say: “go back to your own country.” This project follows a man who did, showing how complicated that choice can be—for the person who leaves and for those who remain.
The work consists of two parts. "Why You Left" was photographed in Liberia and shows the father’s life there, shaped by warmth, freedom, and everyday hospitality. "Who You Left" follows the mother and children in the Netherlands, focusing on what it means to grow up with an absent parent.
We congratulate the selected artists on their nominations.
We carefully reviewed all submitted materials from the shortlisted artists. Our evaluation considered both the artists’ overall practice—its urgency, innovation, uniqueness, and trajectory of development—and a recent project highlighted in their application.
We assessed the social and cultural relevance of the work, its political dimensions as embedded in everyday relations and infrastructures, the articulation of artistic language and voice, research-based and conceptual approaches, and a critical awareness of the photographic medium. We also considered the potential of the work to expand into installation or spatial presentation.
Additionally, we reflected on the momentum of each practice and what joining the FUTURES platform at this particular moment in 2026 could bring. For some artists, this aligned with a newly released project that could be shared with the community of artists and members; for others, with a clearly articulated motivation or proposal.
While not decisive, we also noted the relevance of combined practices, such as curatorial or educational work, and considered how each artist would contribute to the FUTURES community. Finally, we sought a balance of perspectives and stories, and the conversations these practices would bring forward. We want to highlight additionally that the selection includes artists with both formal art education backgrounds and self-taught paths.
In total, we discussed 18 applications, all of which were very strong. The selection process offered an opportunity to engage deeply with the practices of many remarkable artists. Artists who were not nominated this year will automatically remain on the shortlist for FOTODOK’s next nomination cycle. We wish them continued success in their work and in future nominations.”
FOTODOK’s nomination followed a two-step process, beginning with internal nominations by FOTODOK team members, who compiled a shortlist of artists. The final selection was then made by an external jury consisting of Astrid Hulsmann, curator at BredaPhoto (Breda), Guinevere Ras, curator at the Nederlands Fotomuseum (Rotterdam), and Tom Viaene, coordinator of the Trigger - a publication for reflection on photography (FOMU - Museum of Photography, Antwerp), with Daria Tuminas, artistic advisor and curator at FOTODOK, being the secretary of the process.
