Luján Agusti (b. 1986, Puerto Madryn, Argentina) is a visual storyteller and National Geographic Explorer whose work lives at the intersection of documentary photography, ecology, and feminist thought. Based in the Island of Tierra del Fuego, her practice is a patient inquiry into Latin American identity, and territory, with a special focus in the Southern lands. While photography anchors her work, she frequently incorporates collage, painting, and organic, alternative processes. Through these practices, she challenges static representations and explores how matter itself can shape narrative, or even become an active collaborator.
Between 2022 and 2025 she received multiple awards for her co-directed short film “La Noche y las Tormentas” (2022) and the film Agua Negra (2024) In 2023 she became a Magnum Foundation Fellow for the HEAT Expanded Photography Program. In 2021 she received the Climate Pledge + National Geographic Society Grant. Since 2018 she participates in National Geographic Photocamps as Editor/Teacher. In 2018 she received an IWMF Fellowship. She was selected for the World Press Photo 6x6 Global Talent Program of South America. In 2017 she received the first round of Women Photograph + ONA Grant, the Emerging Artist Scholarship of Lucie Foundation, and the CUARTOSCURO/Foundry Scholarship. That year she attended the XXX Eddie Adams Workshop.
She was awarded First Prize of the Book Call of Encontros da Imagem (Portugal, 2016). Recipient of the 2016 Roberto Villagraz Fellowship of EFTI and the Young Stimulus Prize of the ArtexArte Biennial. Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass (2016, 2017), and selected for the First Book Award of MACK Books (2016). Selected for the New York Times Portfolio Review (2017). Selected for the XVII Photography Biennial of Centro de la Imagen (Mexico, 2016). She published her first photobook "Un montón de ropa" (A pile of clothes).
Her work has been exhibited internationally in China, India, Spain, Canada, United States, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Italy, etc. and has been published in international media outlets such as National Geographic Magazine, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times - LENS blog, The New York Times en Español, The British Journal of Photography, Vice, de Volkskrant, among others.
Luján belongs to Prime Collective and Ruda Colectiva, and co-runs Canelo, a multidisciplinary Studio based in Ushuaia.
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Luján Agusti (n. 1986, Puerto Madryn, Argentina) es una narradora visual y exploradora de National Geographic, cuyo trabajo se sitúa en la intersección de la fotografía documental, la ecología y el pensamiento feminista. Radicada en la Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, su práctica es una paciente reflexión sobre la identidad y el territorio latinoamericanos, con especial atención en las tierras australes. Si bien la fotografía es la base de su trabajo, incorpora con frecuencia procesos orgánicos y alternativos. A través de estas prácticas, desafía las representaciones estáticas y explora cómo la materia misma puede moldear la narrativa, o incluso convertirse en una colaboradora activa.
Entre 2022 y 2025 recibió múltiples premios por su cortometraje codirigido “La Noche y las Tormentas” (2022) y la película Agua Negra (2024). En 2023, se convirtió en becaria de la Fundación Magnum para el Programa de Fotografía Expandida HEAT. En 2021, recibió la Beca Climate Pledge + National Geographic Society. Desde 2018, participa en los Photocamps de National Geographic como editora y profesora. En 2018, recibió una beca IWMF. Fue seleccionada para el Programa de Talento Global 6x6 de World Press Photo de Sudamérica. En 2017, recibió la primera ronda de la Beca Mujeres Fotográficas + ONA, la Beca para Artistas Emergentes de la Fundación Lucie y la Beca CUARTOSCURO/Foundry. Ese mismo año, asistió al XXX Taller Eddie Adams.
Recibió el Primer Premio de la Convocatoria de Libros de Encontros da Imagem (Portugal, 2016). Recibió la Beca Roberto Villagraz 2016 de EFTI y el Premio Estímulo Joven de la Bienal ArtexArte. Fue nominada a la Masterclass Joop Swart (2016, 2017) y seleccionada para el Premio al Primer Libro de MACK Books (2016). Seleccionada para la Revista Portfolio del New York Times (2017). Seleccionada para la XVII Bienal de Fotografía del Centro de la Imagen (México, 2016). Publicó su primer fotolibro, "Un montón de ropa".
Su obra se ha exhibido internacionalmente en China, India, España, Canadá, Estados Unidos, México, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Italia, etc., y se ha publicado en medios internacionales como National Geographic Magazine, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times - LENS blog, The New York Times en Español, The British Journal of Photography, Vice y Volkskrant, entre otros.
Luján pertenece a Prime Collective y Ruda Colectiva, y forma parte de Canelo, un estudio multidisciplinario con sede en Ushuaia.
Awards and Recognitions:
2025 POY Latam Honorable Mention. Agua Negra Project. Ecuador.
2025 Santiago Wild Fest. Selected Agua Negra Project. Chile.
2023-2024 Magnum Foundation. HEAT Photography Expanded Fellowship. US.
2022-2023 NGS - The Climate Pledge. Peatlands Project. US
2022 FAN Film Festival Best Patagonic Short-Film "La Noche y las Tormentas”. Neuquen, Argentina
2022 FAB Film Festival Best Bi-National Short-Film "La Noche y las Tormentas”. Bariloche, Argentina
2020 NGS COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists. “Corazón de la Isla” Project. US.
2020 NGS COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists with Ruda Colectiva. “Esto no es una cadena” Project. US.
2018 National Geographic Explorer. US.
2018 IWMF Adelante Grantee. USA/Colombia
2018 IWMF Adelante Fellow for “The US/Mexico Border”. USA/Mexico
2018 Second Place FELIFA “Feria de Fotolibros Latinoamericanos”. Argentina.
2018 Selected as tutor for “20Fotógrafos Bolivia”. Colombia
2018 6x6 Global Talent Program of World Press Photo South America. The Netherlands.
2017 Women Photograph Grant Winner. USA
2017 Lucie Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship Recipient. USA
2017 Winner of EAW XXX Paid Internship at LA Times. USA
2017 Winner of CUARTOSCURO/Foundry Grant. Mexico
2016 Winner of Book Call do Festival Encontros da Imagem. Portugal
2016 Winner of the Roberto Villagraz Grant of EFTI. Spain
2016 Nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass de World Press Photo. Holland
2016 Nominated for the First Book Award de Editorial Mack. UK
2015 Winner Estímulo Joven de la IV Bienal ArtexArte. Argentina
Publications:
Editorial:
Time Magazine, National Geographic Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times - LENS blog, The New York Times en Español, The British Journal of Photography, Vice, de Volkskrant, Standaard, Fish Eye, Refinery29, Bloomberg News, among others.
Photobooks:
2024 Agua Negra. Argentina, Self Edition of 100.
2023 Somos el Mito. Argentina, ArtexArte Ediciones. Edition of 500.
2022 Fibras del Fin del Mundo. Argentina, Editora Cultural Tierra del Fuego. Edition of 500.
2020 Hilanderas del Fin del Mundo. Colombia, Raya Editorial. Edition of 500.
2019 Exvotos. Buenos Aires, Argentina. FEA. Edition of 50.
2017 CLAP 10x10 Contemporary Latin American Photobooks. USA. Edition of 600.
2016 Un montón de ropa. Ciudad de México. Edition of 100.
Studies:
2025 Diploma in Antarctic Studies, UNSAM. Argentina
2018 IWMF HEFAT Training. Mexico
2017 Eddie Adams Workshop XXX. USA
2017 Foundry Workshop. Mexico
2017 Incubadora de Fotolibros. Hydra. Mexico
2015 Contemporary Seminar of Centro de la Imagen. México
2007 - 2010 Photography School Andy Goldstein. Argentina
2005 – 2009 Bachelor of Arts. UBA. Argentina
Exhibitions:
Solo shows
2024 Agua Negra. House of Culture. Ushuaia, Argentina.
2022 Glaciares Negros. Bass Museum of Art. Miami, US.
2014 Mamá. Primera Parte. Blanco Galería. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2014 54°48´26´´S 68°18´16´´O. Casa de la Cultura de Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Argentina
Collective shows
2024 Magnum Foundation HEAT Fellowship Pop Up at MMAG Foundation. Jordan
2023 ECO Vist. Ruda Colectiva. Ciudad de México
2023 ECO Vist. Ruda Colectiva. Bolivia
2022 Festival Internacional de Valdivia. Salva tu Alma. Valdivia, Uruguay
2022 MadArts Museum. NFTS Project Obscura. Miami, US
2022 MUFF. Proyecto Ancestras de Ruda Colectiva. Uruguay
2020 Festival Lumínica. Costa Rica.
2020 Cortona on the Move. Cortona, Italy.
2020 Latin American Foto Festival.The Bronx Documentary Center. New York, US.
2019 Africamericanos. Museo de Amparo. Puebla, México.
2019 Luz del Norte. Museo Cuatro Caminos. Ciudad de México.
2019 Tejiendo Redes. Fotógrafas Latinoamericanas. Parque Rodó, CdF. Montevideo, Uruguay.
2019 Project SHOW US by Getty, Dove & GirlGaze. London, England.
2018 6x6 Global Talent Program Exhibitions
2018 SCAN Tarragona Festival. Tarragona, Spain.
2018 Africamericanos. Centro de la Imagen. Ciudad de México.
2017 Women Photograph Container. Photoville Festival. Brooklyn, NY. US
2017 CLAP Contemporary Latin American Photobooks. 10x10 Photobooks. Museum of Fine Arts. Houston, US
2016 CLAP Contemporary Latin American Photobooks. 10x10 Photobooks. Aperture Foundation Gallery. New York, US
2016 Buenos Aires Photo. Espacio ArtexArte. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2016 CLAP Contemporary Latin American Photobooks. 10x10 Photobooks. PGH Photo Fair. Pittsburgh, Estados Unidos
2015 IV Premio Bienal ArtexArte 2015. Galería ArtexArte. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2015 Especial de Fotografía Vice. Galería Fifty24Mx. Ciudad de México, México
2015 NS Photo Exchange. MACBA. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2015 NS Photo Exchange. Gallery 44. Toronto, Canadá
In addition to the artistic practice:
2019 - Now Photography Editor & Teacher National Geographic Society Photocamps held in Hong Kong, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Louisiana (US), Mexico, Galápagos and New Zealand.
2012 - Now Photography Teacher (Fundación PH15, Santa, Como ser Fotógrafa, Creadores de Imágenes, Independent Workshops)
2022 Director FELIFA Photobook Festival Federal. Ushuaia, Argentina
2019-2021 Co-director FELIFA Photobook Festival held in Buenos Aires, Argentina
2019 Co-organizer Women Photograph Workshop held in Quito, Ecuador
2018 General producer Errante Photography Festival held in Montevideo, Uruguay
2016 General producer SAN JOSE FOTO Photography Festival held in San Jose, Uruguay
2012 - 2016 Blog Coordinator and Project Manager at PHMuseum
2009 - 2011 Photo and Video Editor at Infobae. Argentina.
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