The six shortlisted artists for the inaugural prize were drawn from Leibovitz's mentorship program — an initiative tied to her tenure as IKEA's first Artist in Residence — which invited young photographers to explore themes from the Life at Home Report. Their resulting portfolio, developed under Leibovitz's guidance, was exhibited alongside her own work at Paris Fashion Week in February 2024. 

The winner received $10,000, with $5,000 for second place and additional prizes for other finalists. A distinguished jury including curators and editors from organizations such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, Vanity Fair and Vogue selects the winners.

The inaugural shortlist was a testament to the prize's global reach, with photographers from Ukraine, the U.S., Nigeria, Romania, the Netherlands, and France in the running.

The winner of the first edition was 21-year-old French photographer Zélie Hallosserie. Other shortlisted photographers include Elena Kalinichenko (Ukraine), Ka’Vozia Glynn (USA), Praise Hassan (Nigeria), Toma Hurduc (Romania), and Trâm Nguyễn Quang (Netherlands), whose work was exhibited at Photo London, Somerset Hose, 15–18 May 2024.

Artists were selected by a jury including Drew Sawyer (Whitney Museum), Isolde Brielmaier (curator and scholar), Kira Pollack (freelance photo editor) and Raul Martinez (Condé Nast).

"Zélie’s work stands out for its emotional sincerity and commitment to humanizing complex social issues," says Lisa Saltzman. "She exemplifies the spirit of this prize—compassionate, courageous, and deeply engaged". Hallosserie is known for her committed documentary practice examining migration and exile in northern France. Her ongoing project, The Game, focuses on the experiences of people living in and around Calais — many from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Eritrea — who undertake the dangerous journey across the English Channel. The crossings remain perilous, with numerous lives lost in recent years.

Since 2022, Hallosserie has worked closely with a local shelter in Calais, leading photography workshops and building sustained relationships with those directly affected. This long-term engagement informs a practice grounded in trust and collaboration. Through her work, she seeks to move beyond the reductive framings often found in mainstream media, foregrounding dignity, individuality, and the complex realities of displacement.