Jalan and Jibril Durimel receive the 2026 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture in recognition of their ability to present fashion as part of a broader, evocative exploration of creativity through light and color in their photography. 

Born in Paris to parents from Guadeloupe, the twin brothers first came to the United States when they were 4 after their family moved to Miami. Later, the Durimels relocated to the island of St. Maarten when the brothers were 12, where they developed a love for cinema. Eager to return to the United States, the Durimel brothers moved to Los Angeles at the ages of 18 to attend film school at Los Angeles City College, where they stayed for seven years.

“Growing up in the Caribbean, the United States was a constant and central influence on media, fashion, and urban customs,” they say. “After living in several countries over the years, we have always been called back to the metropoles of the United States that have served as wonderful incubators for us to strengthen our practices amongst the zeitgeist of contemporary art and culture.”

The duo began working on various film and photography projects in LA, including directing the music video Bet for the artist Mereba in 2016. The project, which took six months to complete, tells the coming-of-age story of a sexually confused young man growing up in the Caribbean.

In 2018, they were commissioned to photograph an editorial feature by the French magazine Double. They street-cast a group of friends and redressed them in an assortment of luxury attire.

Since then, the Durimel brothers have developed a signature style in fashion photography. Influenced by their experiences growing up in multiple countries, their work encourages audiences to be curious about other people, other cultures, and other clothing. The subjects are often depicted draped in a rich golden light, encapsulating the image with a fairytale-like quality that invites the viewer to pause and ask: What is really taking place? Whose story is being told?

The Durimels’ unique style has caught the attention of major names in the fashion industry. The brothers have photographed campaigns with COMME des GARÇONS HOMME/Tyler the Creator (2018), Vogue (2018), Hermes (2020 and 2021), Calvin Klein (2021), The North Face x Gucci (2022), Louis Vuitton (2022), Adidas (2022), and the collaboration between David Yurman and Michael B. Jordan (2024). They have also held international exhibitions in Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. 

The brothers’ next projects include Untitled, a collection of still-life images depicting items found in the natural world and a portrait series called Lundambuyu’s Mobility Program. The Durimels say their biggest project is their book of photography Quiet as the Country, which comprises photographs between Senegal and the Ivory Coast. They will be able to complete this project with the prize money received from the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Fashion & Culture.

Awards and Accomplishments

Young Guns Award (2017)