2026 Selection Committee Statements
Members of the photographic and arts communities comprise the Review Santa Fe Selection Committee. Their responses to the experience of selecting the work for the Review Santa Fe Photo Symposium are below. The 2026 Review Santa Fe list of photographers is forthcoming.
Eric T. Kunsman • erickunsman.com • Rochester, NY
Professor • Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) • | Co-author, Both Sides of the Table: Photography Portfolio Reviews Do's & Don'ts | Review Santa Fe Alum, Excellence in Teaching Award, Reviewer • CENTER
Few experiences have shaped my understanding of photography as profoundly as Review Santa Fe. I faced rejection three or four times before finally being accepted, and since then, I have shown my work here five times. In subsequent years, I co-authored Both Sides of the Table: Photography Portfolio Reviews Do's & Don'ts with Debe Arlook to clarify the review process for future artists. As a Master Printer, I have dedicated years to assisting photographers in preparing the prints and portfolio books they bring to Santa Fe. I have also had the opportunity to serve as a reviewer, and this year, for the first time, I will review at Santa Fe on behalf of CEPA Gallery.
Each of those experiences has taught me something. The rejections taught me that a "no" is rarely about the worth of the work; more often, it is about the weight of the field in any given year, or a project still finding its shape. Being accepted taught me how much can shift in a twenty-minute conversation. Working alongside other artists in the studio taught me that a project's real strength is built quietly, in revisions no one sees. And reviewing this year’s applications to the reviews taught me how much trust every applicant places in the process.
My approach was methodical. I began by examining the images, allowing them to communicate their intent. Next, I reviewed the accompanying statement to determine whether it enriched the work or simply reiterated visual elements. Finally, I evaluated the project holistically, considering sequencing, pacing, and the alignment between technique and intention. The most compelling applications integrated craft and concept seamlessly. The imagery, quality even at thumbnail size, and the rhythm of the edit were as thoughtfully considered as the subject matter.
The projects that resonated most were those grounded in patience. These works did not hasten to conclusions. Instead, the photographers demonstrated a willingness to engage with discomfort, ambiguity, or unresolved questions. Such attentive observation is uncommon and distinctly evident.
If you applied this year and were not selected, I want to convey my understanding of rejection. Persistence and reflection were essential to my eventual acceptance. Continue refining your sequence and critically assess whether each image justifies its inclusion. Remember, the photograph itself constitutes part of the visual language, and its presentation as a series on the screen represents only one aspect of its meaning.
I am grateful to CENTER for the invitation and to all participants for their contributions.
Will Wilson • willwilson.photoshelter.com/index • Santa Fe, NM
Photographer & Associate Professor • University of Texas at Austin | Board Member and Review Santa Fe Alum • CENTER
At the heart of CENTER Santa Fe’s mission is a commitment to advancing socially and environmentally engaged lens-based media that not only reflects the world, but actively participates in shaping how it is understood. As we gather for Review Santa Fe 2026, we recognize photography as a medium in transition—one that continues to evolve alongside new technologies, shifting notions of authorship, and urgent questions around truth, ethics, and representation.
Our selection process is grounded in recognizing work that is both visually and conceptually compelling—images that hold attention, sustain inquiry, and open space for dialogue. I am particularly drawn to practices that understand photography not as neutral description, but as an active force in the production of knowledge, memory, and meaning.
As an artist and juror, my own practice—described as trans-customary—brings Indigenous knowledge systems into dialogue with photographic histories, emerging technologies, and material processes. Projects such as Auto Immune Response, the Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX), and Connecting the Dots for a Just Transition engage photography as both a historical problem and a contemporary site of possibility. This work reflects a broader commitment to relational, accountable forms of image-making that challenge extractive modes of representation while supporting cultural continuity and environmental awareness.
The photographers recognized this year demonstrate not only technical and conceptual strength, but a willingness to engage complexity with clarity and care. Their work reflects a sensitivity to the conditions under which images are made and circulated, and an awareness of how visual practices shape our understanding of one another and the worlds we inhabit.
At a moment when images can be generated as easily as they are captured, the importance of intention, perspective, and lived experience becomes even more vital. The artists included in this year’s Review respond to that condition with rigor and imagination. They do not simply document the present; they question it, reframe it, and, in doing so, help us imagine what might come next.
Denise Wolff
Independent Book Editor | Review Santa Fe Reviewer • CENTER
At its core, CENTER is generous and expansive. This spirit creates space for the meaningful connections and dialogue that define Review Santa Fe, deepened by the surrounding New Mexico landscape and its artistic legacy. This is what makes Review Santa Fe so special.
Each review is a conversation with its own unique alchemy, shaped by the photographer, the work, the place, and the moment. I still remember reviews from fifteen years ago that transformed my thinking. The connections at Review Santa Fe may come in the form of opportunities, or an idea that clicks, or a next step you’re encouraged to take, but they always lead back to a shared sense of community.
As I reviewed this year’s entries, I imagined the potential conversations and connections in relation to each project. I am mindful of the time, creativity, thought, and resources you invested in your work and submissions. Please know that I looked at each portfolio with care and curiosity. And I thoroughly enjoyed entering the different worlds I encountered through your work. I hope you find the same sense of surprise and discovery when you gather in person.
