LONDON.- The World Photography Organisation announced celebrated contemporary artist Candida Höfer as the recipient of the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards’ prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize.

The artist will be presented with her award at a ceremony held in London on Thursday April 19, 2018. A personal selection of Höfer’s works will be shown as part of the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London from April 20 - May 6.

German artist Candida Höfer (b. Eberswalde, 1944) is one of the world’s foremost contemporary photographers. Renowned for her precise methodology and technique, Höfer’s internationally recognized work often takes the form of large-format color photography. Her powerful portraits of vast, empty interiors are part of major collections around the world and are exhibited in leading museums worldwide.

In celebration of Höfer’s contribution to photography, the artist has personally selected works from across her long career to be shown as part of the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London. The exhibition will include three of Höfer’s most notable large-scale pieces – Musée du Louvre Paris XXI 2005, Hermitage St. Petersburg VIII 2014 and Trinity College Library Dublin I 2004 - which are on loan from Ben Brown Fine Arts, London.

Previous recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title include Mary Ellen Mark, Eve Arnold, Bruce Davidson, Elliott Erwitt, and most recently, Martin Parr.

Höfer’s works will join more than 600 inspirational images from across the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s most diverse photography competition. Curated by Mike Trow, former Picture Editor, British Vogue, the exhibition’s images have been specially selected from record-breaking submissions to the 2018 Awards. Covering a wide variety of genres, from architecture to landscape, street photography to wildlife, portraiture to travel, these shortlisted and commended works will provide audiences with a true insight to the photographic trends that have shaped the past year.

Speaking of her award and the upcoming exhibition, Höfer said: "I feel very honored. I hope this will help continue to break down barriers between Photography and Art in public perception."

Scott Gray, CEO, World Photography Organisation commented: “It is a tremendous privilege to be able to present this Award to such an important artist who has broken boundaries in her profession. Candida’s work, technically perfect and so beautifully intense, is a delight to behold.”