GRADUATION AWARDS ― Class of '26
ANTWERP ART GRADUATION AWARD
The Antwerp Art Prize was founded in 2023. With this prize, Antwerp Art seeks to support the development of young artists not yet associated with any organization. Every year, two students with a master degree in fine arts are selected based on their graduation projects: one from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and one from Sint Lucas Antwerp.
Masters from the fine arts programmes and photography present their work to an external jury consisting of a mix of curators and gallerists. The prize consists of a substantial cash prize and a production fee for an exhibition of new work during the upcoming Antwerp Art Weekend.
― Nora Sacré (Sculpture)
― honorable mentions: Szewing Law (Printmaking & Drawing) + Ines Tinoco (In Situ)
FAAR RESIDENCY AWARD
FAAR chose 2 laureates from the Academy for a Residency from July 2026 to February 2027 at the Italiëlei / Paardenmarkt location in Antwerp.
The residency includes a private studio and full access to FAAR's shared workspace, facilities, and exhibition spaces, guidance and support from the FAAR community (including a dedicated contact person to help settle in) and a solo exhibition in one of FAAR's exhibition spaces at the end of the residency.
After the residency, the two artists will have the opportunityto continue renting the studio and become a temporary or full member of the community.
― Nina Schuurmans (Sculpture)
― Jade Sterckx (In Situ)
FUTURE MAKERS: THE JEWELLERY OF TOMORROW AWARD by Atelier David Gotlieb
As part of their commitment to preserving Antwerp’s rich legacy in jewellery craftsmanship, Atelier David Gotlib introduces a new award: a fully sponsored three-month residency in their atelier, offered to one selected graduate from the Jewellery Masters Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, which this year will be hosted at Atelier David Gotlib.
The residency will allow the selected graduate to develop their own jewellery collection and take their first steps into the professional world, guided by industry experts. The winner will be selected by a jury of key figures from the jewellery, fashion, and cultural sectors.
― Lin Yanzhu
HORLAIT-DAPSENS AWARD
In her will, Mrs. Horlait-Dapsens used the entirety of her fortune to establish two public benefit institutions. One of them is the ‘artistic foundation Mathilde E. Horlait-Dapsens’. The prize of €9000 aims to enable further artistic training. Teachers from each programme of the Academy nominate one student, who presented their work again to an external jury.
Jury 2026: Helena Kritis (chief curator WIELS), Valerie Verhack (contemporary art curator Museum M), Julia Moreira (director Mendes Wood Gallrey), Mekhitar Garabedian (visual artist & fine arts teacher KASK)
― Yvonne Schichtel (Fashion)
― Wenqing Cao (In Situ)
HUGO ROELANDT AWARD, presented by Lydia Van Loock
Hugo Roelandt was a pioneer in Photography, installation art, and performance, and a prominent figure in the Antwerp Avant-Garde. He was also a teacher at the Academy. After his death, a fund was donated to the Academy to encourage one master student each year who creates work in the spirit of Hugo Roelandt. Hugo’s widow, Lydia Van Loock, made a pre-selection from all master students and assembled a jury. The student presented their graduation work to this external jury. The winner is awarded €750 and an exhibition at M HKA’s Inbox space.
― Elodie Vreeburg (In Situ)
JAT AWARD, presented by Costume Design [book]
― Julie Herbinot
LON LONDAU AWARD, presented by Costume Design [book]
― Nina Verhaert
MARIANNE VAN VYVE AWARD for Painting, presented by Delphine Cool
The Marianne Van Vyve Prize is an independent painting prize awarded annually to an outstanding master student from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. The prize was founded in memory of Marianne Van Vyve by her daughter Delphine Cool and Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui. The aim of the prize is to support young artists in the early years after graduation by offering them both financial support of €5000 and online exposure.
Five prominent figures from the art world are invited to attend the graduation show of the painting department’s master students and select a laureate. The prize proceedings are managed by the Marianne Van Vyve Fund, administered by the King Baudouin Foundation.
― Bulut Seynaprak
NEW TALENTS AWARD KLIMT02
From the participating school entries, Klimt02 awards one of the featured Jewellery students with a one year free artist’s membership, including a personal artist profile and a solo exhibition at Hannah Gallery. The New Talent Nominees will be presented in the Klimt02 Forum from June until December and promoted online.
― Julie Van Rooy
ROBERT MATTHÉ AWARD
The Robert Matthé Prize is awarded annually in June to a graduating Master's student in Fine Arts from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. The prize consists of a €5000 cash award and an exhibition in the INBOX space at M HKA. The selected work must embody an autonomous artistic practice and demonstrate exceptional potential. Particular attention is given to authenticity, individuality, artistic conviction, and inventiveness. Teachers from each programme of the Academy nominate one student, who presented their work again to an external jury, chaired by the dean of the Academy.
― Cristina Esmoris Navarro (Sculpture)
VAN GOGH HOUSE ZUNDERT - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE + DE MOEREN
In addition to the former caretaker’s house from Van Gogh’s time, a modern guest studio has been built. This studio is made available for one month to an artist, either from the Netherlands or abroad, who “follows in Van Gogh’s footsteps” and is inspired by this location to create work. The artists stay in the caretaker’s house and conclude their residency with an exhibition. Masters submitted a motivation & portfolio, after which the
laureate was selected by an external jury, composed by the management of the Van Gogh House.
― Colin Porato (Painting) for Van Gogh AIR
― Lucas Hendrickx (Sculpture)