Gerhard Steidl - Sony World Photography Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2020

“I’m honoured to be the Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2020 recipient. As a printer and publisher, one of the things I love most about photobooks is that they’re a democratic medium: they bring photography to a wider audience. In this spirit I’m particularly excited about creating the exhibition One Love, One Book: Steidl Book Culture. The Photobook as Multiple at Somerset House. It’s a chance to show some of our most ambitious books, to share some bookmaking secrets, and hopefully to inspire the next generation of bookmakers.”
- Gerhard Steidl
Based in Gottingen, Germany, Gerhard Steidl began working as a printer and designer in 1969. In 1994 Steidl publishing house launched its international photobook program. Today it includes some of the world’s most renowned photographers and artists including Joel Sternfeld, Bruce Davidson, Robert Frank, Robert Adams, Karl Lagerfeld, Lewis Baltz, Dayanita Singh, Ed Ruscha, Roni Horn and Juergen Teller, to name but a few.
Steidl has produced books for six of the 12 past Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipients. This is the first time the award has been given to someone other than a photographer.
Every Steidl book distinguishes itself through individual design and production values. Known for his passion for paper, printer and publisher Gerhard Steidl personally selects the paper and binding materials for each title and oversees all aspects of the production process - each Steidl book literally passes through his hands.
Over the decades Steidl at Düstere Straße 4 in Göttingen has become one of the most respected printers in the international publishing world. Whether photography, art, fashion or literature, it is Steidl’s goal to realize the dreams and goals of artists and authors, and to create art in book form.