"For me, photography is a means of bringing societal processes to light and creating spaces for a nuanced examination of these issues. At the centre of my work are questions surrounding identity, belonging and social inequality. A particular focus is on women's perspectives and lived experiences that are often underrepresented in public discourses. My work takes a documentary approach and is based on in-depth research, continuous observation and a sensitive approach to the people I portray. It is my goal to make complex connections visible and avoid simplified interpretations. "

Jana Islinger (*1999) lives and works as a documentary photographer in Munich. She completed her BA in photography at the Munich University of Applied Sciences and subsequently attended the master class at the Ostkreuz School of Photography under Professor Linn Schröder and Ingo Taubhorn. Since 2024 she is represented by Agentur laif. Taking a journalistic approach, she works on longterm projects surrounding social topics. Her focus lies on the perspectives of women as well as questions surrounding identity, belonging and power structures. Her way of working is based on intense research, continuous observation and a closeness to people and themes. She is interested in the multilayered portrayal of individual realities and how they are intertwined with societal structures. Islinger has received numerous awards for her work, including the Nikon Fotobus Grant and the Vonovia Award for Photography. She also received the Emscherbilder-Stipend, as well as the CME Goethe Institute Residency Grant and was nominated for the Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography, as well as the World Report Student Award. In 2025, her work was exhibited as part of the photo festival Les Rencontres d'Arles.