Art Basel’s inaugural awards highlight Grace Wales Bonner, Formafantasma, and global visionaries shaping culture right now.
Art Basel just revealed the 36 global visionaries receiving its inaugural awards, highlighting creators who’ve shaped contemporary culture beyond traditional boundaries. Among them are London-based fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner and design studio Formafantasma, founded by Simone Farresin and Andrea Trimarchi, whose work thoughtfully blends art, fashion, and design.
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Chosen by an international jury, the honorees include figures who have significantly impacted visual culture. Wales Bonner, whose collections elegantly merge fashion with rich cultural narratives, receives recognition in the Cross-Disciplinary Creators category. Formafantasma, renowned for their innovative approach to sustainability and materials, share this honor, reinforcing their role as leaders in contemporary design.
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The comprehensive list of medalists spans established and emerging artists, curators, institutions, and critical voices reshaping contemporary discourse. Iconic artists recognized include Lubaina Himid, Adrian Piper, and Betye Saar, while rising stars such as Meriem Bennani and Pan Daijing highlight a vibrant new generation at the forefront of innovation.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 19 at the Kunstmuseum Basel, coinciding with Art Basel’s primary fair, and will be complemented by the inaugural Art Basel Awards Summit, addressing key future developments within the global creative industry.
In December, during Art Basel Miami Beach, a select group among the 36 medalists will be announced as Gold Medalists, receiving substantial financial support and global exposure to further amplify their visionary work.
Full list of Medalists:
ARTISTS – ICON
David Hammons
Lubaina Himid
Joan Jonas
Adrian Piper
Betye Saar
Cecilia Vicuña
ARTISTS – ESTABLISHED
Nairy Baghramian
Tony Cokes
Cao Fei
Ibrahim Mahama
Delcy Morelos
Ho Tzu Nyen
ARTISTS – EMERGING
Mohammad Alfaraj
Meriem Bennani
Pan Daijing
Saodat Ismailova
Lydia Ourahmane
Sofia Salazar Rosales
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CREATORS
Formafantasma
Saidiya Hartman
Grace Wales Bonner
PATRONS
Shane Akeroyd
Maja Hoffmann
Joel Wachs
INSTITUTIONS
ART + PRACTICE
Jameel Arts Centre
RAW Material Company
CURATORS
Candice Hopkins
Shanay Jhaveri
Eungie Joo
ALLIES
Art Handlxrs*
Gasworks / Triangle Network
Sandra Terdjman
MEDIA AND STORYTELLERS
Negar Azimi
Barbara Casavecchia
The Journal of Curatorial Studies
