Paula Hornickel is a portrait and documentary photographer from Cottbus, Germany, based in Dortmund and Berlin. Her work explores themes including future visions, pop culture and social issues, often in relation to current events.
She is currently pursuing a double master’s degree in Photographic Studies at the FH Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Visual Communication at the Berlin University of the Arts, where she previously completed her bachelor’s degree. During her studies, she also spent an exchange semester studying photography at Pratt Institute in New York City.
Hornickel works as a freelance photographer on editorial assignments and collaborative projects. She previously interned as a photo editor at SZ-Magazin. Her work has been published in outlets including Süddeutsche Zeitung, manager magazin and tip Berlin.
In 2021, Hornickel co-founded the photo collective Visual Wellness, which organized group exhibitions, print swaps and provided a space for photographers to exchange with other photographers. She is also a member of Freelens and the Fotobus Society.
Her project Anthrobocene was shortlisted for the Nikon Fotobus Grant, longlisted for The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, and selected for a photobook workshop led by Rob Hornstra and for a curation workshop at C/O Berlin in 2025.
Her upcoming work explores notions of identity and heritage through the contemporary realities of the post-reunification generation in East Germany, drawing from her own experience.
World Press Photo Involvement:
2026 World Press Photo Contest winner
Paula Hornickel on Social Media:
Instagram: @paulahornickel
