Vogue Korea & PhotoVogue: ‘Women by Women’ Exhibition in Seoul 2026

PhotoVogue Festival 2026 Heads to Seoul with “Women by Women” Exhibition

The tenth anniversary of the PhotoVogue Festival will see a significant expansion of its reach, bringing the “Women by Women” exhibition to Seoul, South Korea, as part of the Vogue Korea Leaders event. The event, running from March 27 to March 29 at Layer Studio 20 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, marks a continued commitment by Vogue Korea and PhotoVogue to amplify women’s voices and perspectives within the art world.

This year’s Vogue Korea Leaders event builds on previous iterations, evolving from a focus on “Woman Now” in 2024, which celebrated female solidarity, to “Women and Work” in 2025, which documented the experiences of working women. The 2026 theme, “Agency,” explores the complexities of women claiming ownership of their narratives and choices. The March issue of Vogue Korea features 17 prominent Korean women – including Nora Noh, the country’s first fashion designer, alongside figures from film, music, and modeling – who share their personal journeys and the sacrifices made in pursuit of self-determination.

The “Women by Women” exhibition is a direct response to a perceived imbalance in representation within the art and image-making world. Launched in the spring of 2025, PhotoVogue issued a global open call specifically inviting women to portray women, recognizing the power dynamics inherent in the act of image creation. As Alessia Glaviano, Global Head of PhotoVogue, stated, “expression is never neutral, and who makes the image still matters.” This initiative underscores the belief that controlling the visual narrative is crucial for empowering women and challenging existing power structures.

The open call generated an overwhelming response, receiving nearly 100,000 submissions from over 9,500 artists across 149 countries and territories. The resulting collection of images, according to PhotoVogue, affirms the “urgency, complexity, and richness of the female gaze today.” The Seoul exhibition will showcase a selection of work from this global call, alongside an archival photography show, prompting visitors to consider the meaning of agency for women in a contemporary context.

Beyond the exhibition, the Vogue Korea Leaders event will feature talk sessions with eight women leaders on March 28th and March 29th, providing a platform for sharing experiences and insights. The event’s broader aim is to foster dialogue and inspire action around the theme of female empowerment, both within Korea and on a global scale. The inclusion of the PhotoVogue exhibition within this framework highlights the growing recognition of photography as a powerful tool for social commentary and change.

The expansion of the PhotoVogue Festival to Seoul signifies a broader trend of international collaboration and a commitment to showcasing diverse perspectives. As Vogue continues to leverage its global platform, initiatives like “Women by Women” are increasingly important in providing visibility and support for emerging artists and challenging established norms within the creative industries. The event in Seoul offers a unique opportunity to engage with this work and consider the evolving definition of agency in the 21st century.