The Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Art has announced its shortlist for 2023, marking another significant milestone in the recognition and support of emerging West African artists.
Established by Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia in 2014, the prize seeks to highlight and celebrate contemporary artists in West Africa who demonstrate innovation and excellence in their work.
This initiative reflects a broader commitment to nurturing the arts in West Africa and providing a platform for talented artists to gain recognition and opportunities to advance their careers.
The Kuenyehia Trust for Contemporary Art (the ‘Trust’) is a not-for-profit organisation established to, among others, support emerging and mid-career African artists.
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Since its inception, the Trust’s Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Art (the’ Kuenyehia Prize’) has received entries from over 631 artists from across West Africa. A winner and two shortlisted artists share in prize money of ten thousand US Dollars ($10,000).
All shortlisted artists participate in a month-long exhibition which is usually attended by many influential people in the art ecosystem including curators, gallerist and collectors.
The idea is to provide shortlisted artists a toolkit to enable them create value out of their work for the rest of their careers and to build brands that will ensure they command premium prices for their work should they be commercially minded.
The Trust is pleased to announce the launch of the seventh edition of the Kuenyehia Prize. This year, we have lowered the age to participate and the Prize is now open to visual artists between the ages of 18 to 40 from and living in West Africa.
With the announcement of the shortlist for 2023, the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Art continues to stand as a testament to the vibrant and dynamic art scene in West Africa. It underscores the importance of supporting emerging artists and the role of art in reflecting and shaping contemporary society.