06/03/2025

06/03/2025

The winner will receive a creative residency at the National Justice Museum in 2025 with £1,000 budget

The National Justice Museum has announced the recipient of a £1000 prize as part of their Picture This: Hope photography exhibition. The award includes a creative residency at the National Justice Museum in 2025 with a £1,000 budget, decided by a panel of esteemed and expert photographers Anthony Luvera, Francesca Hummler, and Vanley Burke.

Back in June 2024, the Museum launched a public call-out for black and white photographs on the subject of hope, with the promise that every photo submitted would be included in the exhibition. In response over 140 photographers from around the UK, from professionals to amateurs, submitted their images. True to their word, the Museum exhibited every image in their free to enter gallery from Saturday 16th November 2024 until Sunday 16 March 2025.

The museum is delighted to announce that the creative residency has been awarded to Latoya Okuneye with her joyful submission, Fourteen, showing two teenage girls playing on their front steps.

Latoya "Fits" Okuneye is an award-winning art and advertising photographer based in London, with a vibrant, intentional approach to visual storytelling - her signature use of bold colours and compelling narratives has established her as a distinctive voice in the industry.

Latoya places people and communities at the heart of her work. She has collaborated with iconic brands, including Barclays Women’s Super League, TikTok, and Disney. Her passion for socially impactful storytelling is also evident in her personal projects, where she investigates and responds artistically to the cultural and political climate within today’s black community. One of her personal projects is featured in the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition for 2024/2025.

Last year’s Creative Residency Winner Francesca Hummler was one of the judges for this year’s Creative Residency prize. She said of the winning image, "Okuneye’s image feels like a moment many of us can relate to—friendship, playfulness, and those in-between times that shape us. It’s a quiet but powerful reflection of youth."

Also announced is the winner of the Young Person’s Award, open to young photographers aged 10 – 18. First prize was awarded to Olivia Pierce for her image, International Peace Crane.

Joining Francesca on the judging panel were one of Britain’s foremost photographers Vanley Burke, and artist, writer, and educator Anthony Luvera. Anthony shared a heartfelt message of congratulations to the young winner.

“Well done, Olivia! You have deservedly won the Young Persons Award with your highly creative entry for Picture This: Hope. You have created a highly original entry which thoughtfully combines photography with the art of origami. The positive and hopeful words on the paper crane and the symbolism of the sculpture itself are a thoughtful subject matter for the Award, which is all topped off by the way you have successfully used light to create this striking photograph. Congratulations!”

Aimee Wilkinson, Head of Creative Programmes at the National Justice Museum said “A huge congratulations to Latoya Okuneye on being awarded our prestigious Creative Residency prize! Their powerful and evocative work is truly inspiring. This photograph beautifully captures the theme of hope, reflecting connection, joy, and the promise of a bright future. We are very excited to work with Latoya and see how this opportunity will further their incredible talent and vision.

We were absolutely blown away by the talent of the young people who submitted photographs to the competition, and we also extend our congratulations to Olivia Pierce for her winning photograph for the Young Person’s Prize. The photograph connects with people and the theme of hope on so many different levels and speaks to the true intent of the talented young artist.”

Submissions are also eligible for the People’s Choice award until the exhibition closes in March. This award is chosen by members of the public, who can vote for their favourite entry in the gallery itself or on the National Justice Museum’s Facebook page.

As well as being a museum of crime and punishment, the National Justice Museum curates a programme of exhibitions, commissions and displays inspired by their historic building, expansive collection, and enduring social justice themes. Their ground floor boasts two free-to-enter exhibition spaces, featuring a permanent crime gallery with artefacts such as Bow Street Dock and items from The Great Train Robbery; and a flexible contemporary exhibition space that is inspired by items in the collection, where the Hope exhibition is currently housed.

For more information, visit www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk or visit the National Justice Museum’s free gallery space on High Pavement, Nottingham.