SPG Awards 2025 Annual Exhibition - Season 2 celebrates “Reflection” and strengthens SPG’s global presence

The Street Photography Gallery (SPG World) successfully completed the SPG Awards 2025 Annual Exhibition, marking Season 2 of its growing exhibition series and bringing last year’s theme, “Reflection”, into a compelling physical space.

Held in Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Kolkata - India on 7th & 8th February 2026, the exhibition transformed globally recognised award-winning works into a tangible cultural experience. Following a record-breaking edition of the SPG Awards - which saw submissions triple compared to the previous years - the exhibition allowed audiences to encounter the images in print, thoughtfully curated and presented for deeper engagement.

From Digital Acclaim to Physical Impact

Earlier this season, SPG World announced its Gold Star Award winners:

• Sebastian Szczepanowski - 1st Place

• Christian H. Hildebrand - 2nd Place

• Knut Arne Gjertsen - 3rd Place

Their works were exhibited alongside the Top 30 Blue Star Awardees, forming a diverse and contemplative narrative centred on the theme of reflection.

In addition to the award recipients, the exhibition featured selected works by guest photographers whose images resonated strongly with the spirit of “Reflections”. Their inclusion expanded the dialogue, presenting audiences with layered interpretations of urban life, mirrored realities, and emotional duality within contemporary street photography.

A Theme That Encouraged Introspection

“Reflection” challenged photographers to move beyond surface imagery. Through glass, water, shadow, architectural lines and human interaction, participants explored identity, contradiction, solitude and connection. Seen in print, these works gained heightened dimensionality and emotional presence, underscoring the power of physical exhibition in the digital age.

Support from the Indian Street Photography Community

SPG World Exhibition Season 2 received strong praise and encouragement from respected Indian street photographers including Joydeep Mukherjee, Sarasij Dasgupta, Manish Khattry,Raj Sarkar and many seasoned personalities of the community. Their public support reflects the exhibition’s growing credibility within India’s vibrant street photography landscape and signals SPG’s strengthening cultural footprint.

The exhibition became more than a showcase - it evolved into a forum for conversation, reflection and artistic exchange among practitioners and audiences alike.

Integrity at the Core

The credibility of the exhibition stems from SPG’s rigorous and neutral awards process. The 2025 jury panel - comprising Abhishek Deb, Victor Shohet, Kevin Unger, Goutam Maiti and Talya Amati Lewis, alongside guest judges Einat Atias, Roma Agrawal and Sarasij Dasgupta - evaluated entries anonymously through a multi-stage and partly anonymous selection process to ensure fairness and artistic merit.

Founding Curator Abhishek Deb stated, “SPG’s jury panel plays a bigger role than only being the jury for the Annual Contests. They have been through thick and thin to keep the Street Photography Gallery undeterred and unbiased while ensuring the quality of curation remains top-class.”

Reflecting on the theme, he added, “This year’s theme, ‘Reflection’, successfully conceived the idea of reflections within the discipline of street photography. The works of the Gold Star winners and the Top 30 made all the judges think, wonder, and be both delighted and pondering at the same time. The guest additions in the display section scaled the local excitement and relativity in a way we have always been seeking for our physical exhibitions.”

Co-Founding Curator Goutam Maiti stated, “What an incredible weekend at ICCR! Our Annual Exhibition was more than just a display of frames; it was a living, breathing celebration of street photography. From the inspiring presence of industry veterans to the soulful exchange of ideas during our ‘Chai Pe Charcha,’ the energy was unmatched.”

A heartfelt thank you to every visitor, supporter, and artist who joined us. You made these two days a beautiful testament to our community's shared passion and creative spark!

Looking Ahead

With the successful completion of Season 2, SPG continues its evolution from a respected digital gallery into an emerging international cultural platform. The organisation extends gratitude to the global street photography community, as well as supporters such as Progressive Street and Rome Photo Lab, whose continued support strengthens the community’s growth.

As preparations begin for upcoming contests and exhibitions, photographers and enthusiasts worldwide are invited to explore SPG’s initiatives and participate in the next season (ongoing).

Visit the official website for current and upcoming contests and photographer interviews: https://www.streetphotography.gallery/

Follow SPG on Instagram for exhibition updates and regular featured works: https://www.instagram.com/streetphotography.gallery/

The streets continue to reflect. SPG World continues to curate.