Now in its 9th edition, the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, is a biannual award originated by Whitechapel Gallery and established in collaboration with Max Mara in 2005. Collezione Maramotti came on board as an additional partner in 2007, when its extensive collection of contemporary art opened to the public. All three partners inform and collaborate on each phase of the prize’s processes and development.
It is the only visual art prize of its kind for UK based emerging women-identifying artists with the aim to promote and nurture them at a crucial stage in their careers, through increased visibility, and the resources to develop an ambitious new work by offering essential time, space, creative and professional support.
The prize is open to women artists of any age, living and working in the United Kingdom, who have not previously had a major solo survey exhibition. For each edition a jury, comprising a gallerist, critic, artist and collector, and chaired by the Whitechapel Gallery Director, submit a longlist of women-identifying artists, from which a final shortlist of five is agreed.
The Shortlist
The artists selected for the 9th edition of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women 2022-24 were:
Rebecca Bellantoni
Bhajan Hunjan
Onyeka Igwe
Zinzi Minott
Dominique White
Follow the links to watch a short film on each artist and their practices. Download the full press release here
The winner, Dominique White, was announced at a special evening ceremony held at Whitechapel Gallery on 28 March 2023.
The shortlist was selected by a panel of judges chaired by Bina von Stauffenberg in collaboration with Gilane Tawadros, Director, Whitechapel Gallery for the 9th edition. The Panel comprised:
Rózsa Farkas, Gallerist
Claudette Johnson, Artist
Derica Shields, Writer
Maria Sukkar, Collector
Bina von Stauffenberg, Chair of Judges, commented: “Today, as women’s rights continue to be challenged, it could not be more urgent or relevant to ensure that women artists are championed, and heard on the world stage. For more than a decade, this unique prize has successfully enabled women-identifying artists at different stages of their careers to develop their potential in extraordinary ways. Through a six-month Italian residency and the resources to create a major new commission, it offers critical time, space and support.”
The winner, selected on the strength of their proposal for the prize, is awarded a six-month Italian residency, organised by Collezione Maramotti as well as a dedicated exhibition. The residency is uniquely tailored to fit the particular needs and focus of the artist and their winning proposal. Crucially it provides the artist with resources and space to realise a new work, which then forms the basis of a major solo exhibition presented at the Whitechapel gallery, London and Collezione Maramotti, Reggio Emilia, Italy, the following year. Collezione Maramotti then acquire the commission for their world-class art collection, ensuring that the artist is supported and acknowledged beyond the two year prize cycle.
The Max Mara Art Prize for Women is both distinct and exceptional in recognising and supporting the creative process and was awarded the British Council Arts & Business International Award in 2007.
#MaxMaraArtPrize #MMAP9
About the Max Mara Art Prize for Women partners
The Max Mara Fashion Group was founded in 1951 by Achille Maramotti and is now run by the next generation. It is one of the largest women’s ready-to-wear companies in the world, with more than 2,500 stores in more than 100 different countries. maxmara.com
Collezione Maramotti is a private contemporary art collection which opened to visitors in 2007; it is located in the historical headquarters of the Max Mara company in Reggio Emilia. It includes a permanent exhibition of more than 200 works from 1950 to 2019, while regularly presenting new projects and commissions from international mid-career and emergent artists. collezionemaramotti.org
For over a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters to contemporaries. The Gallery is renowned for showcasing emerging and established female artists and has presented major solo exhibitions of Barbara Hepworth (1955), Eva Hesse (1979), Frida Kahlo (1982), Nan Goldin (2002), Sophie Calle (2009), Gillian Wearing (2012) and Sarah Lucas (2013). The Gallery is a touchstone for modern and contemporary art internationally, plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape and is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s most vibrant contemporary art quarter. whitechapelgallery.org
