Sebastião Salgado, the acclaimed Brazilian photographer known for his powerful black and white images documenting social injustices and environmental issues, has died at the age of 81. His death was confirmed on May 23, 2025, by Instituto Terra, the environmental organization he co-founded with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado.
Salgado passed away in Paris due to complications from leukemia, which was linked to a malaria infection he contracted in 2010 during his "Genesis" project.
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Born in 1944 in Aimorés, Brazil, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics. He earned degrees from the University of São Paulo and the University of Paris. His work as an economist took him to Africa, where he developed an interest in photography. In the 1970s, he transitioned to photojournalism, eventually working with renowned agencies like Magnum Photos.
Over a more than five-decade career, Salgado traveled to over 130 countries, documenting the lives of marginalized communities, refugees, and workers. His notable projects include "Workers," "Exodus," and "Genesis," each highlighting the dignity and struggles of people worldwide. His later work portrayed the need for environmental conservation of the Amazon rainforest and the habitats of Indigenous populations.
In 1998, Salgado and his wife established Instituto Terra to restore a portion of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Their efforts led to the reforestation of thousands of hectares, a successful biodiversity and environmental education mission.
Salgado's contributions to photography and humanitarian causes earned him numerous accolades, including the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1998 and multiple World Press Photo awards. He was also a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts since 2016.
He is survived by his wife, Lélia, and their two sons. Salgado, one of Brazil's most famous and recognized artists, always maintained that he was a photographer first. His life and work were featured in the documentary film The Salt of the Earth (2014), which was co-directed by his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, and Wim Wenders.
Salgado passed away in Paris due to complications from leukemia, which was linked to a malaria infection he contracted in 2010 during his "Genesis" project.
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Born in 1944 in Aimorés, Brazil, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics. He earned degrees from the University of São Paulo and the University of Paris. His work as an economist took him to Africa, where he developed an interest in photography. In the 1970s, he transitioned to photojournalism, eventually working with renowned agencies like Magnum Photos.
Over a more than five-decade career, Salgado traveled to over 130 countries, documenting the lives of marginalized communities, refugees, and workers. His notable projects include "Workers," "Exodus," and "Genesis," each highlighting the dignity and struggles of people worldwide. His later work portrayed the need for environmental conservation of the Amazon rainforest and the habitats of Indigenous populations.
In 1998, Salgado and his wife established Instituto Terra to restore a portion of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Their efforts led to the reforestation of thousands of hectares, a successful biodiversity and environmental education mission.
Salgado's contributions to photography and humanitarian causes earned him numerous accolades, including the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1998 and multiple World Press Photo awards. He was also a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts since 2016.
He is survived by his wife, Lélia, and their two sons. Salgado, one of Brazil's most famous and recognized artists, always maintained that he was a photographer first. His life and work were featured in the documentary film The Salt of the Earth (2014), which was co-directed by his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, and Wim Wenders.
