Leica Hall of Fame Award 2024: Herlinde Koelbl
Leica Camera AG celebrates the remarkable career of German photographer Herlinde Koelbl with the Leica Hall of Fame Award. This prestigious honor was presented during the Celebration of Photography, scheduled from October 9 to 10 at the Leica headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany.
An exhibition dedicated to her work will be displayed at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar until January 19, 2025. Additionally, one of Koelbl’s photographs has been selected as the Leica Picture of the Year 2024.Herlinde Koelbl is a keen observer and chronicler of our times, with a career spanning over fifty years and a body of work that is both vast and nuanced. With dedication and sensitivity, she has explored complex and often sociological themes, providing a deeply personal and thoughtful portrayal of her subjects. Her first photo book, Das Deutsche Wohnzimmer (The German Living Room), published in 1980, was conceived as a sociological study and gained significant acclaim for its combination of documentary images and personal testimonies. Among her most notable works, Jewish Portraits, first published in 1989, is a powerful exploration of German contemporary history through direct black-and-white portraits paired with in-depth interviews. However, Koelbl gained international fame with her project Traces of Power – The Transformation of People Through Governance, begun in 1991, in which she documented the evolving faces of German politicians. The series includes portraits and interviews of Angela Merkel from 1991 to 2021, with six pairs of images representing her distinctive conceptual approach showcased in the current exhibition.With curiosity and an open mind, Koelbl has explored diverse themes, from fashion to human relationships, private spaces to cultural shifts, tackling each project with a balance of rigorous documentation and profound artistic sensitivity. Leica cameras, initially chosen for their discreteness, have remained her tools of choice, enabling her to capture subtle nuances even in the digital age. The exhibition at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar features 47 works from ten of her projects, inviting audiences to delve into her rich artistic journey.
About the Author
Born on October 31, 1939, in Lindau, Koelbl initially studied fashion but discovered photography as her medium of expression in the 1970s. She has collaborated with leading magazines and published numerous photographic books, often accompanied by interviews, some of which have inspired documentaries. Her sensitive and reflective interviews appeared regularly in ZEITmagazin. With over 20 published photo books and numerous awards – including the Medal of Excellence (1987), the Dr. Erich Salomon Prize from the DGPh (2001), the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2009), and the Bavarian Order of Merit (2013) – Koelbl continues to live and work in Neuried, near Munich.
Leica Picture of the Year
A limited edition of one of Koelbl’s photographs from her Metamorphoses series, exploring the beauty of transience through images of wilting flowers, will be available exclusively at Leica Galleries. Since 2021, Leica Camera AG has awarded the Leica Picture of the Year to outstanding photographers inducted into the Leica Hall of Fame, following recipients like Ralph Gibson, Thomas Hoepker, and Elliott Erwitt. Herlinde Koelbl’s image has been selected as the Leica Picture of the Year 2024.
Leica Hall of Fame Award
The Leica Hall of Fame Award celebrates photographers whose work has left a mark on the world, with iconic images that have entered our collective memory. Since 2011, Leica Camera AG has recognized artists with powerful and original visions, including Steve McCurry, Barbara Klemm, Nick Út, and Ara Güler. The award has since been presented to Joel Meyerowitz (2016), Gianni Berengo Gardin (2017), Bruce Davidson and Jürgen Schadeberg (2018), Walter Vogel (2019), Ralph Gibson (2021), and Elliott Erwitt (2022). With the induction of Herlinde Koelbl, the Leica Hall of Fame now honors 14 distinguished photographers.
Herlinde Koelbl “Leica Hall of Fame”
11/10/2024 – 19/01/2025
Leica Gallery Wetzlar – Germany
More info :
