Thomas Ruff Receives the 2nd International Photography Lishui Award

The International Photography Lishui Award, established by the Lishui Photography Museum (China) in 2023, is an international academic prize. We are pleased to announce that Thomas Ruff has been selected as the second laureate of this award.

For more than forty years, Ruff has explored the mechanisms, technologies, and very act of seeing that define the medium of photography, continuously expanding its expressive possibilities. Through his sustained practice, he has introduced new methods and perspectives to contemporary image-making, a contribution that was highly recognized by the jury. Comprising nine experts from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan, the jury unanimously selected him for this honor.

To commemorate the award, the Lishui Photography Museum will present the exhibition Thomas Ruff. A Mindmap on Photography.

Exhibition title: Thomas Ruff. A Mindmap on Photography
Dates: November 7, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Venue: Lishui Museum of Photography, China