Xposure 2026 explores truth through portraiture at Aljada

January 12, 2026 / 2:21 PM

Sharjah24: Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 returns to Sharjah with a renewed focus on the human face through its People & Portraiture Zone, a highlight of the festival’s landmark tenth edition. Taking place at Aljada from 29 January to 4 February 2026, the zone examines portrait photography as a powerful medium for exploring identity, memory, and lived experience at a time when images are increasingly shaped by speed, manipulation, and spectacle.

Curated within the festival’s theme, A Decade of Visual Storytelling, the People & Portraiture Zone presents six exhibitions by photographers working across documentary, cinematic, and research-driven practices. The participating artists include Tarik Khoja, Deanne Fitzmaurice, Ana Backhaus, Pete Muller, Richard Cawood, and Mohammed Muhtasib, each offering a distinct perspective on portraiture as a long-term relationship between photographer and subject.

Dialogue on ethics and storytelling

In addition to exhibitions, the zone features live talks and discussions on image-making, ethics, and responsibility when working with personal histories and trauma, further deepening public engagement with the art of portrait photography.