Photographer Matías Costa has been honoured with the XVII Piedad Isla National Photography Prize, presented by cultural deputy Carolina Valbuena at the provincial palace in Palencia. This award, which carries a prize of €6,000, pays tribute to Piedad Isla, a pioneer of photography in Spain, marking 17 years since her passing.
Matías Costa, who teaches at the PHotoESPAÑA Master’s programme and the General Foundation of the University of Alcalá, expressed his admiration for Piedad Isla's work, sharing her interest in territory and memory. The jury highlighted his commitment to social issues and his pursuit of new narratives in photography.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1973 and currently residing in Madrid, Costa has been recognised for his work that addresses themes of uprooting and reconstruction. He has received accolades such as the World Press Photo award, has curated exhibitions, and served as director of Leica Gallery Madrid from 2021 to 2025.
