The Seventeenth Annual Survey Exhibition: Sponsored by Pacific New Media Foundation. Opens online February 18, 2026. Gallery exhibition hosted by Downtown Art Center (DAC), Honolulu, Hawai‘i, February 12-February 28, 2026, Opening Reception, Thursday, February 12, 2026, 5:30-8pm
Juror: Aline Smithson: Los Angeles-based visual artist, Editor-in-Chief of Lenscratch, and educator. Her work has been exhibited in over 40 solo shows globally and featured in prestigious publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker. alinesmithson.com
This juried exhibition is open to all artists in Hawaii using photographic processes: analog or digital, color or BXW, alternative processes and mixed media explorations. Contemporary Photography in Hawaii 2026 offers artists a venue for exhibiting work and provides a snapshot of the “state of the art” of photography in Hawai‘i.
The gallery exhibition consists of 104 works by 75 artists from Hawai‘i. The exhibition consists of two parts: individual image entries and entire portfolios. 75 individual images were selected for the exhibition and fourteen portfolios, of which all Hawai‘i artists are submitting two works for inclusion in the DAC galleries. All portfolios can be viewed online in their entirety with an artists’ statement.
Additionally, we formed a special category known as “Friends of Pacific New Media”—non-residents of Hawai‘i who are regular, active students of PNM classes and were invited to submit portfolios for the online portion of the exhibition only. PNM has also included in the DAC exhibition a table of artist’s books and zines from participating artists.
As usual, the juror and PNM attempted to reflect the strength and diversity of contemporary photography in Hawai‘i. We were pleased to find many themes that mirror both the sentiment of our times and the issues of the day: culture in its many forms, identity, the human condition, as well as images that explore the ocean, land, and environment. We found both praise of place and celebration of life’s many forms as well as critical commentary and the paradox of beauty amidst challenging conditions.
The arts and photography can give voice to the people of Hawai‘i, either by affirming what is special and unique about these islands, or by actively exploring the challenges and protesting the difficult conditions that affect us all deeply.
Contemporary Photography in Hawai‘i 2026 features two key components:
1. A juried selection of individual images selected from individual entries from the State of Hawai‘i.
CLICK HERE FOR ACCEPTED INDIVIDUAL IMAGES
2. A set of juried portfolios consisting of a minimum of 8 and a maximum of ten images on a theme with an artist’s statement.
CLICK HERE FOR ACCEPTED PORTFOLIOS
Many thanks to the juror and to everyone who entered the exhibition, reflecting the quality and diversity of contemporary photography in Hawai‘i.
On behalf of PNM and the participating artists, we want to thank the following businesses for their generous support: Art Source + Designs Framing, Chromaco, and Halekulani Corporation. And special thanks to Downtown Art Center and its gracious and supportive staff members. We are grateful for your help and support.
Pacific New Media Individual Image Award: Freedom, David Castellano
Pacific New Media Portfolio Award: Water Roadway, Ed Tsang
Art Source and Design Framing Awards:
Remembering, Hawkins Biggins
Greetings from Miami, Chris Rohrer
Zine Awards: First place: Used Towels and Souvenir Shops: Waikiki at Night, James Knudsen
Best Concept Zine: Hawaii our own, Shane Sakata
Halekulani Corp. Portfolio awards for framing assistance
Alison Uyehara
James Knudsen
Daeja Fallas
Diana Nicholette Jeon
Ed Tsang
Emmett Lopez
Eric Wehner
JP Chaine
Lance Wong
Nicole Seu
Honolulu Street Photographers Collective
Ryan Sakamoto
Shane Sakata