The 2026 Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize

Adelaide Ginga is an art historian, curator, and museologist, currently serving as Director of MACAM – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins.

Graduated in Art History from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, she also holds a Master’s in Contemporary History from the same university, as well as a Master’s in Curatorship and Exhibition Organisation from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Universidade de Lisboa.

Her career began in 2001 as a specialist at the Portuguese Ministry of Culture’s Institute of Contemporary Art. Later, she coordinated the International Department of the Institute of the Arts and led several national representations at events such as the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Biennial. In 2006, she was appointed Deputy Director of the Institute of the Arts. From 2008 to 2021, Ginga held the position of Senior Curator at MNAC – Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea in Lisbon (also
known as the “Chiado Museum”).

Adelaide Ginga is the author of numerous curatorial projects, books, catalogues, and essays on art history, and has delivered a range of lectures and talks on contemporary art, both nationally and internationally

David Elliott is a cultural and art historian, writer, curator and museum director primarily concerned with modern and contemporary art. Elliott was Director of the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford, England from 1976-96, Director of Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden from 1996-2001, the founding Director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan from 2001-06, the first Director of Istanbul Modern, Turkey in 2007 and from 2016-2019, Vice-Director and Senior Curator of the Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art in Guangzhou. From 1998-2004, he was President of CIMAM (the International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern Art) and in 2008, the Rudolf Arnheim Guest Professor of Art History at Humboldt University, Berlin; from 2012 to 2017 he was a guest professor in curatorship at the Chinese University, Hong Kong. Since 2010. He has been the Artistic Director of biennales of contemporary art in Sydney, Kiev, Moscow and Belgrade and is currently working freelance as a writer and curator.

João Paulo Queiroz holds a PhD in Fine Arts from the University of Lisbon, an MA in Communications from the University Institute of Lisbon, and a BA in Painting from the Escola Superior de Belas-Artes de Lisboa. He is a Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon, in the PhD courses in Art Education of the University of Porto, and PhD in Arts of the University of Seville, Spain. Queiroz acted as coordinator for the International Congress CSO annually from 2010 to 2022 and of the academic journals Studio, Gama, and Croma. From 2012 to 2022, he coordinated the Congress Raw Material, Practices of Visual Arts in Basic and Secondary Education annually. He currently serves as President of the Board of Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes (SNBA, National Society of Fine Arts). He has held several solo exhibitions and was awarded the Gustavo Cordeiro Ramos Painting Prize by the National Academy of Fine Arts in 2004.

Maura Marvão has represented the international auction house Phillips in Portugal and Spain for the past 17 years. She holds a law degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from New York University.

She served on the preparatory committees for the establishment of the International Criminal Court at the United Nations in New York and later worked at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, also in New York.

Maura Marvão is currently a visiting professor in the Culture Studies programme (Master’s and PhD) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon, teaching Art Markets and Practices of Collecting. She continues to organise international conferences and seminars and is actively involved in a wide range of culture-related projects.
She was President of ADIAC (Associação para a Difusão Internacional de Arte Contemporânea), a member of the Board of Directors of the Fundação da Juventude, founding President of the Portuguese chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and President of the Associação de Amigos da Fundação Ricardo Espírito Santo Silva.

She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Bagos d’Ouro Association, which promotes the education and social integration of children and young people in the Douro region.

Philippe Vergne has been serving as director of Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto, since April 2019. He was director of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) from 2014 to 2018. Prior to his appointment at MOCA, Vergne served for five years as director of the Dia Art Foundation, New York. Before his tenure at the Dia Foundation, Vergne was Deputy Director and Chief Curator at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. From 1994 to 1997, Vergne was Director of the MAC, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Marseille, France.

Tim Marlow is Chief Executive and Director of the Design Museum in London.

Formerly Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and Director of Exhibitions at White Cube, Marlow has been involved in the contemporary art world for the past thirty years as a curator, writer and broadcaster.  He has worked with many of the most important and influential artists of our time to deliver wide-ranging and popular programmes and brings a commitment to diverse and engaging exhibitions to his new role showcasing the transformational capability of design.

Marlow sits on the Board of Trustees for the Imperial War Museum, Art on the Underground Advisory Board and Cultureshock Media. Marlow was awarded an OBE in 2019.

Edgar Martins is a Portuguese artist whose practice is rooted in long-term collaborations with high-profile and restricted organisations, including CERN, the European Space Agency, EDP, BMW, and the Metropolitan Police. His work explores themes such as war, incarceration, migration, urbanism, and technology.

His recent project investigates the death and disappearance of his close friend, photojournalist Anton Hammerl, during the 2011 Libyan war. Through this work, he examines the challenges of documenting conflict in the absence of witnesses, testimony, or material evidence, reflecting on the limits of representation and the complexities of narrating war.

Martins is the recipient of several major awards, including the Sony World Photography Award for Photographer of the Year (2023) and the International Photography Awards Film Photographer of the Year (2023). In 2025, he was awarded the Grand Prize of the Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize.

Edgar Martins é um artista português cuja prática se baseia em colaborações de longa duração com organizações de alto perfil e acesso restrito, incluindo CERN, a European Space Agency, a EDP, a BMW e a Metropolitan Police. O seu trabalho explora temas como a guerra, o encarceramento, a migração, o urbanismo e a tecnologia.
O seu projeto recente investiga a morte e o desaparecimento do seu amigo próximo, o fotojornalista Anton Hammerl, durante a guerra civil líbia de 2011. Através deste trabalho, analisa os desafios de documentar o conflito na ausência de testemunhas, testemunhos ou evidência material, refletindo sobre os limites da representação e as complexidades de narrar a guerra.

Martins recebeu vários prémios de destaque, incluindo o Sony World Photography Award de Fotógrafo do Ano (2023) e o International Photography Awards de Fotógrafo do Ano na categoria de filme (2023). Em 2025, foi distinguido com o Grande Prémio do Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize.

Alexandre Daletchine is an art advisor, creative coach and professional public speaker with over 20 years of experience in the contemporary art world. With a unique passion for cross-cultural discourse, he guides clients seeking to align with their values, taste and long-term goals. Passionate about meaningful dialogue, he leads conversations that spark bold thinking and authentic artistic exchange.

Anel Imanbay is an entrepreneur, community builder, and creative director based in Lisbon.

She is the organizer and license holder of TEDxMarvila, Lisbon’s English-speaking TEDx event, where she brings together diverse voices to share ideas and inspire dialogue.

With a background spanning corporate finance, startups, consultancy, and art curation, she has developed initiatives that bridge business, culture, and community.

Passionate about the role of art in shaping society, Anel works to create platforms where creativity and human connection can thrive.

She also hosts the podcast Voices of the World, engaging with inspiring individuals to share stories that broaden perspectives.

Her commitment to fostering cross-cultural exchange and supporting artistic talent aligns closely with the mission of the Sovereign Art Foundation, making her an advocate for initiatives that use art as a force for community, education, and positive change.

Anne Brightman is Founder and CEO of Brightman Group Real Estate Investments, a leading luxury and investment real estate firm in Portugal with offices in Estoril/Cascais, Lisbon, and Porto. With decades of experience navigating international and Portuguese markets, Anne specializes in guiding international buyers through the complexities of investing and living abroad.

Under her leadership, Brightman Group has grown into a team of over 30 multicultural agents and professionals, recognized for combining real estate best practices with in-depth local market knowledge.

Her vision is rooted in growth, constant learning, and building bridges between markets to deliver unmatched opportunities for her clients.

Teresa Vitoria is an interior designer and entrepreneur whose practice extends beyond aesthetics into the preservation of cultural heritage. As founder of Alchemya, she developed a method of programming environments that harmonizes function, flow, and emotional resonance. Teresa views design not only as the creation of beautiful spaces, but as a means of safeguarding identity and nurturing human connection.

Drawing on both scientific insights and intentional design principles, she transforms interiors into purposeful environments that support mind, body, and spirit. Her work reflects a belief that the spaces we inhabit shape our collective experience and serve as vessels for memory, meaning, and cultural continuity.

Through her projects and advocacy, Teresa aspires to elevate the way we interact with our surroundings, fostering environments that enrich lives in enduring ways.

Yvette R. Simpson, Esq./MBA is a lawyer, professor and serial entrepreneur. Nicknamed the “Queen of Reinvention” she is a wine maker and wine educator, Realtor, author, and international speaker. She currently teaches leadership courses remotely at Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Business and Consultant for UB Greensfelder law firm in the U.S. A former public official and national commentator for ABC News and NPR, Yvette has always been passionate about creating a better world and supporting young people.
She has won numerous awards and honors, including the YWCA Career Women of Achievement Award, Women Who Mean Business and Top 100 CEO in .
Yvette is married to cartoonist Joe Hoffecker and bonus mom of three daughters: Katie, Maggie, and Annie.
In Portugal, Yvette is excited to direct her advocacy and philanthropic expertise to the work of Sovereign Art Foundation and her wine knowledge to support Howard’s Folly.

Maria J. Pesantez is the founder of Latitude Zero, a Portugal-focused real estate investment platform operating at the intersection of international investment, lifestyle, and cultural experience. She also leads a property management company in the United States, offering a dual perspective as both operator and investor.

A Harvard University graduate, where she earned a Master’s in Sustainability, Maria holds additional degrees in Finance and Business Administration. She spent 13 years in biomedical research administration, managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading large-scale operations before transitioning into real estate.

Having lived in Ecuador, the United States, France, and Portugal—and traveled to over 50 countries—Maria brings a global outlook shaped by diverse cultures and human connection. She prioritizes building meaningful relationships and fostering community, with a deep appreciation for travel, music, gastronomy, and curated experiences shared with family and friends.

Committed to impact, Maria dedicated over a decade to environmental volunteering and now focuses on supporting the arts and creative expression, including her involvement with the Sovereign Art Foundation.

Diana Williams has over twenty five years experience in the arts and heritage fields in the UK and South Africa. Diana began her career in the arts field with St Paul’s Cathedral Foundation as Head of Corporate Fundraising, spearheading the £40 million campaign to clean and restore the historic building. Diana then moved to South Africa in 2003 and began a long-term association with Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), the government agency encouraging business sponsorship of the arts. She was the founding Director of the business mentorship programme for arts organisations. In 2014-15, she co-curated the programme for Art Week Joburg with the Visual Arts Networks of South Africa (VANSA). In 2016, she joined the Board of the Association for Visual Arts (AVA), the oldest visual arts association in South Africa where latterly she served as Vice Chairman. At the same time, she launched Art Trails, a tour guiding business for tourists and collectors visiting South Africa, providing insight into the contemporary art scene. In 2020, she moved to Lisbon where she continues to be involved in the arts, making cross cultural connections and promoting funding support for the arts.