Filipino photographer Jan Mayo debuts at London’s National Portrait Gallery

For Mayo, this milestone highlights the core philosophy behind his craft. “The National Portrait Gallery is one of the world’s most important institutions dedicated to portraiture, so being included is a validation of what I have always believed about the medium,” he shares. “For me, portraiture is about the connection between the photographer and the sitter. The camera is secondary. What matters is that the connection is felt in the image.”

While the artist views the upcoming exhibition as the dawn of a new chapter in his career, looking forward to learning new perspectives, he acknowledges that the honour carries a much wider cultural significance.

“Photographers from the Philippines and the Global South have historically had less visibility in major Western photography competitions and institutions, so this inclusion is larger than a personal achievement,” Mayo explains. “I hope it creates a space for Filipino photographers, our visions, our aspirations and our perspectives to be seen and felt by international audiences. We need to reiterate that we are here, we have arrived, and we are here to stay.”

A lens-based artist whose practice seamlessly navigates portraiture, research and cultural storytelling, Mayo brings a unique blend of technical precision and human sensitivity to his work—traits honed by his background as a trained pilot and dancer. His photographs consistently explore themes of beauty and identity, marrying documentary observation with an artistic approach to examine the relationship between people and place.

His expanding portfolio has received support and exhibition space from prestigious institutions such as the National Museum of the Philippines, the University of Tokyo and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, which stands as the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to collecting and exhibiting modern and contemporary Asian art. Notably, his recent portrait series Faces & Flora marked a historic milestone, making him the first photographer to hold a solo exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History in the Philippines. The project was further enriched by a collaborative exhibition catalogue between the National Museum of the Philippines and the University of Tokyo, bridging the gap between natural history research and art.

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery was the first museum of its kind and currently houses the world’s largest collection of portraits. Spanning over four centuries of British history and culture, the gallery uses portraiture to explore identity, telling the stories of individuals who have shaped Britain and the wider world.

The Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize continues this legacy by celebrating the finest contemporary photography from established professionals, gifted amateurs and talented young photographers alike. By capturing a vast array of moods, characters and locations, the competition champions both traditional and contemporary approaches, illuminating the fascinating stories behind each image—from formal commissions to intimate, spontaneous moments.

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