Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam to Feature Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025 Nominees Exhibition
The cultural landscape in Amsterdam is buzzing following the announcement of the shortlist for the prestigious Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025. The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam will proudly host an exhibition showcasing new works by the four nominated artists later next year, offering a unique opportunity to experience their evolving artistic practices.
The four artists nominated for this cycle are Fiona Lutjenhuis, Kevin Osepa, Thierry Oussou, and Buhlebezwe Siwani. This selection was made by the Mondriaan Fund, which organizes this key incentive award for emerging visual artists.
Discovering Emerging Talent in Amsterdam
Each of the four nominees will receive a production budget to create new work over the coming months. This newly commissioned art will form the basis for the exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum. The ultimate winner of the Prix de Rome will be chosen by the jury based on these works, receiving a cash award of €60,000 to further support their artistic practice.
The jury focused on artists who offer fresh perspectives within the visual arts in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and contribute meaningfully to its development. They lauded the nominees for their unique visual languages and compelling visions, even within their still-developing oeuvres. Whether through a single impactful presentation or a diversity of expressions, each artist demonstrated significant promise for the future.
Meet the Nominees
- Fiona Lutjenhuis (Zevenaar, 1991, lives in Amsterdam): Her multidisciplinary practice, encompassing installations, paintings, sculptures, and artists’ books, delves into how beliefs and fantasies shape perception. The jury noted her imaginative and singular oeuvre, creating compelling, layered presentations.
- Kevin Osepa (Curaçao, 1994, lives in Amsterdam and Curaçao): A visual artist and filmmaker, Osepa explores Afro-Caribbean spirituality, identity, and colonial memory through a personal and queer lens. His photography, video, and installations aim to revive suppressed knowledge and rituals, offering alternative narratives to dominant Western perspectives. His work has previously been seen at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
- Thierry Oussou (Allada, Benin, 1988, lives in Amsterdam and Benin): This conceptual artist uses various media to visualize narratives, particularly focusing on often-marginalized professions like drivers, builders, and cotton workers. The jury praised his deep material research, transforming materials into powerful carriers of cultural significance and memory.
- Buhlebezwe Siwani (Johannesburg, South Africa, 1987, lives in Amsterdam and Cape Town): A Sangoma and traditional spiritual healer, Siwani explores the intersection of ancestral rituals and modern life in South Africa. Her performances, photography, sculptures, and installations often feature her own body to illuminate socio-political themes, including the Black female body and colonial history.
The Prix de Rome: Cultivating Dutch Visual Arts
The Prix de Rome serves as an incentive award for highly talented emerging visual artists from the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Its core aim is to stimulate their development and boost their visibility, ensuring the contemporary relevance of the visual art field. The Mondriaan Fund has organized and financed the award since 2012. This year, the Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025 is being organized in collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, a partnership that underscores the museum's commitment to fostering groundbreaking contemporary art.
Plan Your Visit: The Prix de Rome Exhibition at Stedelijk Museum
Visitors to the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam can mark their calendars for Saturday, November 29, 2025, when the exhibition of new works by the Prix de Rome nominees opens. This is a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge visual art and witness the culmination of a significant artistic development process. An accompanying publication will also be produced to complement the exhibition.
This event offers a compelling look at the future of visual arts, accessible through platforms like Musemap (musemap.art). To discover more cultural institutions in the city, you can explore more museums in Amsterdam or find other art and culture spots on the map.
