2021 Judges
Professional competition

Mike’s also chaired the judging panel for the Sony World Photography Awards. Since the 2018 competition, he’s guided the most credible curators, museum directors and picture editors to decide who has created the most exciting work entered into the Professional competition. Mike has curated the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, held annually each Spring at Somerset House before embarking on a worldwide tour.





Open and Youth competitions

Gastón Deleau is Founder and Director of FOLA, a space dedicated to photography located at the heart of Buenos Aires. Established in 2015, FOLA’s main objective is to foster dialogue and exchanges between artists from around world through its programme of exhibitions, awards, publications, festivals, workshops and portfolio reviews. Some of its landmark exhibitions include Graciela Iturbide, Alberto García Alix, Vivian Maier, Chema Madoz and Frida, by Leo Matiz, to name a few. Since 2001 Deleau has been involved in the development and launch of many cultural and artistic initiatives including Gallery Nights, a cultural tour of more than 100 art galleries; La Semana del Arte, a week of special art and culture programming in Argentina and Peru; the Buenos Aires Photo fair which he directed for 10 consecutive editions followed by the launch of Lima Photo, the first photography fair in Peru; and IMPACT ART a collaboration with UNICEF Argentina and international athletes such as Leonel Messi, Emanuel Ginobili and Juan Martín del Potro.
Student competition

Kate Simpson joined Aesthetica Magazine in 2016 and, in addition to writing for and editing the magazine, has also worked on number of other annual publications and competitions including the internationally renowned Aesthetica Art Prize and BAFTA-Qualifying Short Film Festival. Kate has worked with a number of high-profile organisations such as Apple and Magnum Photos, and has produced features with the likes of Jenny Holzer, Stephen Shore and Edward Burtynsky. She has also worked alongside some of the world’s largest photography fairs including PHOTOFAIRS, Rencontres d’Arles, Circulation(s) and Unseen Amsterdam, as well as global institutions such as MoMA, New York; Foam Amsterdam; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Tate, London and MCA Australia, amongst others. She has also programmed for large-scale lecture series and cultural events, including the Aesthetica Future Now Symposium, working with speakers such as Martin Parr, Nadav Kander and Cornelia Parker OBE. She has spoken at numerous events about publishing, journalism and the effects of the digital age on contemporary culture, including Frieze London and Sotheby's Arts Publishers Fair.