Recognition and Awards

Diego Orlando's artistic journey is distinguished by consistent recognition that has established his position as a leading figure in contemporary art photography. His achievements celebrate both his mastery of professional photographic technique and his ability to engage with the aesthetic and conceptual sensibilities of contemporary art, bridging the gap between pictorialist and modern artistic photography.


In 2018, «La Mirada de Goya» (The Gaze of Goya), a photographic series exploring the complex relationship between Spanish women and religion in the 19th century, marked a breakthrough in his career by winning first prize in two categories at the prestigious International Photography Awards™ (IPA): Fine Art Photography and Fine Art Photography Book. This work defined the distinctive elements of his visual language, characterized by chiaroscuro photography and conceptual depth, paving the way for international recognition in the contemporary art market.


The impact of his photographic work continued to resonate in the international art scene. In 2020, his series «Malleus Maleficarum» was honored with an Honorable Mention in the Fine Arts category at the IPA.


2021 brought new accolades that reaffirmed his technical mastery. His work «Half-lights, half-shadows» received an Honorable Mention in the IPA's Fine Art Portrait category, highlighting his exceptional command of light and composition. Simultaneously, he received a nomination at the Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA), solidifying his presence in the world of art photography.


2022 marked a significant expansion of his international reach. His work «Love Sonnet», a masterful fusion of portraiture and fine arts, was officially selected at the IPA, reaffirming his distinctive style in art photography. Additionally, he received two mentions at the Tokyo International Foto Awards™ (TIFA), one in the Fine Arts category and another as Official Selection, extending his recognition to the Asian continent.


2023 proved exceptionally prolific for Orlando. PhotoVogue by VOGUE Italia featured his works «Mother Earth» and «Blue Night» as part of the exclusive Best of PhotoVogue. Concurrently, his work «Harmony in the Countryside: Grandma's Beloved Farm» was not only officially selected for the IPA but also received an Honorable Mention in the Nature and Animals category for its sensitive portrayal of farmyard life.


In 2024, Diego Orlando achieved one of the most significant recognitions of his career by winning Second Prize in the Photography category at the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. His award-winning work, «Knight Paper», represents years of artistic exploration paying homage to the great masters of European painting. That same year, he secured two additional Official Selections at the IPA with «Stop the War» and «New Baroque: Saint Paul in the Shadows», both in the Fine Arts category, demonstrating his ability to address both contemporary and classical themes with equal mastery.


In the first quarter of 2025, Diego Orlando's artistic trajectory gained significant recognition when he received an Honorable Mention in the prestigious photography contest "Rompe con Ferrater", organized by the Museo del Traje in Madrid as part of the major retrospective "FERRATER. FOTO. MODA. FUERZA." His photographic proposal was awarded for "its ability to connect with the present, its composition, creativity, unique perspective and visual narrative" that dialogues with the transgressive, ironic, and sensual spirit that characterizes the work of José Manuel Ferrater Lambarri, one of the main revolutionaries of fashion photography in Spain. This recognition represents a new horizon in his artistic exploration, establishing a dialogue between his characteristic visual language of chiaroscuro and the world of contemporary Spanish fashion photography.


The accolades that mark Orlando's trajectory from 2018 to the present transcend mere technical validation to become milestones in a journey dedicated to expanding the limits of photography as an artistic medium. His constant evolution—from the reinterpretation of Goya to the dialogue with Ferrater's work—demonstrates his ability to move between the classical and the contemporary without losing his creative identity. As the artist himself describes, his work "seeks light in a world of shadows", a search that resonates deeply with collectors and curators who find in his work both an aesthetic and conceptual investment in the future of contemporary photographic art.

International Exhibitions

Spanning three continents, Diego Orlando's photographic work has carved a distinctive path in the international contemporary art landscape. His artistic vision, which masterfully interweaves the dramatic sensibility of the Baroque with the possibilities of contemporary fine art photography, has captivated cultural institutions, art galleries, and collectors through its ability to create images that transcend conventional categories. In each international exhibition, his photographic work reveals new layers of meaning, establishing a unique dialogue between pictorial tradition and innovation in artistic photography.


In 2016, The Littel Project, within the Toneelhuis program, marked his first international fine art photography exhibition. This space, recognized for fostering innovative projects in contemporary visual arts, highlighted Orlando's ability to transform the everyday into visual narratives that challenged the boundaries of traditional photography.


His participation at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA) between 2019 and 2020 positioned his work at the intersection of digital art and contemporary photography. This center, a reference for digital art in the United States and regular collaborator with institutions like the Centre Pompidou and The Broad, validated his avant-garde approach and enabled dialogue with the most relevant trends in contemporary art on the North American West Coast.


In 2021, Galleria Millepiani in Rome presented «Windows into the Virtual», a fine art photography exhibition organized by LoosenArt. This collective, committed to creating meaningful connections between visual artists and audiences, provided an ideal space to explore the boundaries between real and virtual. Orlando's photographic work resonated particularly in this context, offering a unique perspective that connected Renaissance pictorial tradition with new digital realities.


Participation in the London Art Biennale in 2021 represented a crucial moment in his international artistic trajectory. Considered by critics like Pulitzer Prize winner Lonnie Schlein as one of the most relevant platforms after Venice, this event placed his artistic photography at the center of debate on the most significant currents in contemporary art. In 2022, the 2BIENALBLACK in Brazil elevated his photographic work to a new level of global dialogue. Supported by Itaú Cultural and the International Association of Women's Museums, this biennial underscored his ability to explore themes of identity and representation in a Latin American context.


In 2023, his inclusion in ICONIC Artist and participation in ICONIC Photo Show in Milan marked a decisive moment in his international fine art photography career. This platform, dedicated to discovering and promoting outstanding creative talents in contemporary art, provided a fundamental showcase that connected his work with new global audiences. ICONIC, with its commitment to celebrating creative excellence beyond traditional categorizations, validated the strength and originality of his vision in fine art photography.


This recognition led to his participation in ImageNation Paris 2024, an international exhibition held at Galerie Joseph Le Palais. ImageNation, established as one of the leading international platforms for contemporary artistic photography, brought together over 400 photographers from around the world in an unprecedented visual dialogue. Orlando's work stood out for its ability to build bridges between classical and contemporary, resonating deeply with the most innovative currents in current photography.


That same year, his solo fine art photography exhibition at J70, San Sebastián, marked an intimate and special moment: his official presentation in his hometown. This event not only connected his work with his roots but also introduced his work to the local audience in a deeply personal context.


In October 2024, Diego Orlando made a significant return to the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA) with the exhibition «LACDA Reboot and Reunion». This inaugural event at LACDA's new headquarters symbolized the post-pandemic renaissance of digital art and reaffirmed his position at the forefront of contemporary artistic photography. His participation highlighted his continued commitment to exploring the intersections between photographic technique and innovation in a space fundamental to his artistic development.


His participation at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, as part of the exhibition «Paracosmic Escape», curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, significantly expanded his presence in the North American art market. This space, recognized for its focus on new contemporary art and promotion of representative West Coast artists, provided an ideal context to connect his fine art photography with a diverse and demanding audience.


The year 2024 culminated with an artistic photography exhibition at Factoría de Arte y Desarrollo in Madrid, curated by Javier Díaz-Guardiola. As coordinator of art, architecture, and design for ABC Cultural and editor-in-chief of ABC de ARCO, Díaz-Guardiola represents one of the most influential voices in Spanish contemporary art criticism. His analytical perspective on Orlando's photographic work brings a new viewpoint that enriches the reading of his work in the context of current contemporary art.