Global Students Prize 2026

Edgar Martins is a Portuguese artist of Angolan descent. He was born in Évora (1977) but grew up in China. He has a BA in Photography from the London Institute (University of the Arts), and an MA in Photography & Fine Art from the Royal College of Art (London). His work is represented in collections such as the V&A (London), National Media Museum (Bradford, UK), RIBA (London), MAST (Italy), the Dallas Museum of Art (USA); Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisbon), MAAT (Lisbon), Fondation Carmignac (Paris), MNAC (Lisbon), amongst many public and private collections.

Martins has exhibited internationally at institutions such as: PS1 MoMA (New York), MOPA (San Diego, USA), MACRO (Rome), Laumeier Sculpture Park (St. Louis, USA), Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon), Centro de Arte Moderna de Bragança (Bragança, Portugal), Centro International de Arte José de Guimarães (Guimarães, Portugal), Museu do Oriente (Lisbon), Centro de Arte Moderna (Lisbon), MAAT (Lisbon), Centro Cultural Hélio Oiticica (Rio de Janeiro), The New Art Gallery Walsall (Walsall, UK), PM Gallery & House (London), The Gallery of Photography (Dublin), Ffotogallery (Penarth, Wales), The Wolverhampton Art Gallery & Museum (UK), Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool), The New Walk Museum Leicester, the SouthBank Centre (London), UCCA (Beijing), the National Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (Seoul), the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (Lisbon), the Centre Culturel Calouste Gulbenkian (Paris), etc.

Edgar Martins’ first book —Black Holes & Other Inconsistencies— was awarded the Thames & Hudson and RCA Society Book Art Prize. A selection of images from this book was also awarded The Jerwood Photography Award in 2003.
 He was the recipient of the inaugural New York Photography Award (Fine Art category, May 2008), the BES Photo Prize (Portugal, 2009), the SONY World Photography Award (2009, 2018, 2023), the International Photography Award (2010, 2023), the 2018 Magnum and Lens Culture Art Photography Awards, the 2020 Photo Brussels Prize, etc.

He is the Sony World Photographer of the Year 2023, the Lucie Foundation’s IPA Film Photographer of the Year 2023 and the Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize Winner 2025. Between 2020 and 2025s his book What Photography & Incarceration have in Common with an Empty Vase and Anton’s Hand is Made of Guilt… were shortlisted for the Paris Photo and Aperture Foundation Photobook Awards, the PhotoEspaña Mejor Libre del Ano, the Prix Du Livre Rencontres D’Arles and the PH Museum Dummybook Awards.

He was selected to represent Macau (China) at the 54th Venice Biennale. He works and lives in the UK.

Howard Bilton, a British-born entrepreneur and barrister, has made a multifaceted impact on tax advisory services, philanthropy, and the wine industry in Portugal and beyond. His ventures reflect a unique blend of business acumen and social responsibility, creating a lasting legacy in each sector he touches. 

Tax

As the chairman and founder of The Sovereign Group, Bilton has significantly influenced the tax landscape, particularly for expatriates and international businesses. The Group provides comprehensive tax planning and wealth management services, which help clients navigate complex tax systems. By doing so, it supports individuals and companies to optimize their tax positions within the legal framework, fostering an environment that is conducive to foreign investment and economic growth in Portugal. 

Charity

In the realm of charity, Bilton’s establishment of The Sovereign Art Foundation has made a notable impact on the local and international art scenes. The foundation not only recognizes and supports artists through awards and exhibitions but also raises substantial funds for charitable causes. A significant portion of its work is dedicated to using art as a medium for educational and healing purposes, particularly for disadvantaged children. Through these initiatives, Bilton has harnessed the power of art to make a tangible difference in the lives of many, providing both cultural enrichment and social support. 

 Wine

With Howard’s Folly, Bilton has ventured into the wine industry, intertwining the worlds of oenology and art. The winery is known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the rich terroir of Portugal, contributing to the country’s reputation as a producer of fine wines. Beyond the production, Howard’s Folly serves as a cultural destination, hosting art exhibitions and events that attract visitors from around the world. This unique concept not only promotes Portuguese wine but also elevates the cultural experience of wine tasting, setting a precedent for how wineries can engage with the arts. 

Overall Impact

Howard Bilton’s impact in the fields of tax, charity, and wine is characterized by a forward-thinking approach that leverages professional expertise to foster cultural and social development. By integrating his business endeavors with philanthropic goals, Bilton has shown that commercial success can go hand-in-hand with making a positive social contribution. His efforts have provided a model for sustainable development, showcasing how individual dedication to professional excellence and social responsibility can lead to broad and beneficial societal impacts. 

Modupeola Fadugba (b. 1985, Lomé, Togo) is a multimedia artist who sees the world through a unique lens, one shaped by the analytical precision of her background in engineering and economics and the boundless creativity of her artistic spirit. Her work is a dynamic exploration of the forces that shape our societies, drawing on concepts like game theory and cultural identity to examine themes of social justice, community, and collective memory. Fadugba doesn’t just create art; she builds bridges between disciplines, using painting, drawing, and socially engaged installations to spark dialogue and deepen our understanding of the human experience. Her practice reflects a deep belief in creativity as a catalyst for change.

Her achievements include the prestigious Grand Prize at the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (2025), El Anatsui’s Outstanding Production Prize (2014), and an Emmy Award (2022) for her documentary Dreams from the Deep End. She is also a recipient of the Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship (2020), a member of the Tutu Fellowship Class of 2024, and a winner of the Grand Prize at the Dakar Biennale (2016), accolades that underscore her global resonance and commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.

Fadugba’s work has been exhibited internationally in both solo and group exhibitions. Her most recent solo exhibition, Also, What Are We Wearing? (2025), presented at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, West Palm Beach, delved into Yoruba pageantry, craft, and cultural identity through beaded and burned canvases that reframe spectacle as care. Her previous solo exhibition, Of Movement, Materials and Methods (2025) at Gallery 1957, London, offered a layered reflection on process, identity, and transformation. Other notable solo shows include The Armory Show, New York (2023); The Artist’s Algorithm: Why Nations Win at Alara Concept Store, Lagos (2021); Dreams from the Deep End at Gallery 1957, Accra (2018); Prayers, Players & Swimmers at Cité des Arts, Paris (2017); Synchronised Swimming & Drowning in London (2017); Heads Up, Keep Swimming at SMO Contemporary Art, Lagos (2017); and Like Play, Like Play in Dakar (2016).

Her work has also been featured in group exhibitions including The Conductor Art Fair at Powerhouse Arts, Brooklyn (2025); the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London (2025 & 2017); Constellations Part 1: Figures on Earth and Beyond at Gallery 1957, London (2024); Seen and Being Seen at Praise Shadows Art Gallery, Brookline (2021); Afriques Capitales in Lille (2017); and Design is the Personality of an Idea at the Ford Foundation and African Artists Foundation, Lagos (2015).

Fadugba has exhibited at major international art fairs, including Art Dubai, ART X Lagos, and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Her works are held in significant public and private collections such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Tiroche Collection, and the Sindika Dokolo Foundation.

Sandy Angus is Chairman of Angus Montgomery Arts, the arts division of Montgomery Group. With more than 50 years’ experience in the event and exhibition industry, Sandy Angus has worked extensively in the contemporary arts sector since the 1980s. He has co-founded and invested in a wide range of leading art fairs across 4 continents. Angus has served as President of the Union of International Fairs (UFI) and has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement award from the AEO, the Pinnacle Award from IAEE, Medal d’Or from UFI and the Hall of Leaders from the Convention Industry Council, among his many other accolades.