The Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025 exhibition showcases new works by nominees Fiona Lutjenhuis, Kevin Osepa, Thierry Oussou, and Buhlebezwe Siwani. The exhibition highlights artists contributing to visual art in the Netherlands, with Kevin Osepa selected as the winner.
The Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025 exhibition presents specially created new works by its four nominees: Fiona Lutjenhuis, Kevin Osepa, Thierry Oussou, and Buhlebezwe Siwani. These artists were selected for their promise and meaningful contributions to the development of visual art within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Kevin Osepa was chosen as the winner by the jury, receiving a €60,000 award based on his new works and overall oeuvre.
The nominees explore a diverse range of themes, each contributing uniquely to the contemporary art discourse. Buhlebezwe Siwani addresses Dutch colonial history and its impact, drawing on her experiences as a Sangoma to explore themes of the Black female body, ancestral rituals, and societal tensions. Kevin Osepa's work centers on the fading tradition of Ocho Dia from Curaçao, reflecting on personal and collective grief while creating a living archive of Afro-Caribbean rituals. Fiona Lutjenhuis uses her childhood doll's house and paintings of a snail to explore perception, reality, and the search for home, rooted in her unique upbringing. Thierry Oussou reflects on the historical transatlantic triangle of trade, reshaping colonial trade routes to connect past and present through conceptual art that highlights marginalized professions and their societal significance. The jury noted the distinct visual languages and convincing visions of all four artists.