Art Basel announced the inauguration of the annual Art Basel Awards program, which will recognize artists, leaders and innovators across the art world. Working with luxury fashion house owners, Art Basel will pay tribute to 36 notable individuals and organizations during the flagship fair organized in Switzerland in June this year. The celebration will be held in Basel Miami Beach in December 2025, where 12 gold medalists will be named in a senior event.
Awards to be awarded to three categories of artists: emerging talents; establishments, recognized for major achievements in the art world; and icons, differentiated by their “legendary” status. In addition, six categories will respect other art world figures: curators, museums and institutions, customers, allies, interdisciplinary creators, and media and storytelling.
The nomination for the award was submitted by anonymous “watchers” selected by Art Basel. The international jury then selected 36 medal winners from the nominations. The jury was chaired by Vincenzo de Bellis, Director of the Art Basel Exhibition and Exhibition Platform, and included esteemed panelists, including Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi, Founder of Sharjah Art Foundation; Hans Ulrich Obrist, Director of the Serpentine Gallery in London; Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art in Cape Town and Curator of the 61st Venice Biennale. The 36 medal winners will then vote among them to select 12 gold medalists.
“The Art Basel Awards is a love letter to artists whose vision and nameless champions art are articulated into life,” de Bellis said in a press statement. “They connect the world’s pioneering artists, their allies and their collaborators to achieve opportunities to redefine creation, exhibition, sponsorship and research. This initiative is an invitation to our community to dream of. It reaffirms our commitment to fostering bold artistry and empowering a world where art can flourish and inspire generations.”
Medal winners will receive the Art Basel’s global network, which includes tailored mentorship and partnership opportunities. For gold medalists, the benefits are particularly important: emerging artists will have the opportunity to present their work in a named institution; mature artists will receive commissions for Art Basel; and icons will participate in mentoring programs designed to develop a new generation of talent.
“Through this initiative, Art Basel will provide more opportunities for key players in the art world to open up new paths for exchanges and collaboration across industries and create new touchpoints with our core and rapidly expanding audience,” said Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel.
