Art Basel Launches Its First Annual Awards for Visionaries Shaping the Future of Art
- wgclients01
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
The Art Basel Awards are the first of their kind in the industry, celebrating boundary-pushing artists, curators, museums, patrons, cross-disciplinary creators, media, and others whose work is driving the future evolution of contemporary art.
An International Jury of experts will award 36 Medals to individuals and organizations worldwide, selected for their vanguard vision, skill, and impact. Medalists will be recognized globally by Art Basel through campaigns and initiatives that unfold year-round.
Medalists will pilot a peer-driven process, whereby they will vote to select 12 Gold Medalists from among themselves, representing the Art Basel Awards' highest honor and a new model of recognition in which future changemakers are uniquely elevated by their peers.
Medalists will be announced in May 2025 and honored during Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland in June. Gold Medalists will be revealed at an exclusive award event during Art Basel Miami Beach in December, featuring immersive experiences that reflect the visionary spirit of the Art Basel Awards.
Amplifying connections between contemporary art and global culture, the Art Basel Awards are delighted to announce renowned fashion brand BOSS as their presenting partner. The Awards embody HUGO BOSS Group's longstanding commitment to inspiring discovery and dialog at the intersection of fashion and art.
Unlike conventional awards which focus on singular achievements, the Art Basel Awards recognize practices and contributions of significant and broad impact. Honoring artists, curators, institutions, patrons, cross-disciplinary luminaries, and cultural innovators, the Art Basel Awards emphasize celebration over competition — reinforcing the idea that the future of art is not built by individuals alone, but by communities of influence. In keeping with Art Basel's mission to support the greater art ecosystem and expand avenues for creation and collaboration across the cultural landscape, Medalists gain access to Art Basel's global network, tailored mentorship, partnership opportunities, and bespoke support designed to amplify their work on an international scale. For artists who receive a Gold Medal, the Art Basel Awards will provide those in the Emerging category the opportunity to showcase their work at a leading global institution; those in the Established category a major commission for Art Basel; and those in the Icons category a mentoring program to nurture the next generation of rising talents.
Chaired by Vincenzo de Bellis, the International Jury of the Art Basel Awards comprises nine members, carefully chosen for their expertise, influence, and demonstrated commitment to shaping the future of art. They are:
Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi, President and Director, Sharjah Art Foundation
Elena Filipovic, Director, Kunstmuseum Basel
Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), Cape Town, and Curator, 61st International Art Exhibition (2026), La Biennale di Venezia
Jessica Morgan, Nathalie de Gunzberg Director, Dia Art Foundation, New York
Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine, London
Adriano Pedrosa, Artistic Director, Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, Hong Kong
Franklin Sirmans, Director, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Philip Tinari, Director and Chief Executive, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing
For more information on the Art Basel Awards, visit artbaselawards.com.
