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The 2025 Sovereign Asian Art Prize

Launched in 2003, The Sovereign Asian Art Prize increases the international exposure of artists in the region while raising funds for programmes that support disadvantaged children using expressive arts.

Held annually, The Prize is now recognised as the most established and prestigious annual art award in Asia-Pacific.

How It Works

01

Nomination and Shortlisting

The Prize invites contemporary artists, nominated by a board of independent art professionals, to each enter up to three artworks online. A judging panel comprised of world-class art experts then shortlists the 30 best artworks from a range of digital images. Click here for T&Cs.

02

Exhibition

The shortlisted artworks are exhibited in Hong Kong. Members of the public can enjoy the artworks and engage in the public vote. Local students are offered the opportunity to engage in educational programming.

At the exhibition, the artworks are judged for a second time and voted on by the public. The judges scores are aggregated, and a Grand Prize winner is named.

03

Public Vote

To increase exposure for the artists, the general public are invited to cast a vote online or in person for their favourite shortlisted artwork. The most popular artwork is awarded the Public Vote Prize.

04

Charity Auction

The shortlisted artworks, besides the Grand Prize winner, are auctioned and proceeds are split evenly between the artists and SAF’s expressive arts programming. Click here to learn more about the cause.

Artists receive the same split as they would through a gallery and the artworks often fetch higher prices thanks to generous bidding from charity patrons.

The Prizes

There are two cash prizes available to shortlisted artists. In addition, all finalists enjoy increased international exposure, top tier media coverage, and the opportunity to exhibit their work publicly in Hong Kong.

01
Grand Prize image

Grand Prize

Awarded to the artist with the highest aggregated score from the judges.

02
Public Vote Prize image

Public Vote Prize

Awarded to the artist with the most votes from the public.

SAAP Key Dates (1) SAAP Key Dates (1)

Key Dates

Nomination Deadline

— 4 October 2024

Shortlist Announcement

— February 2025

Finalists Exhibition

— Late March 2025

Winners Announcement

— Late March 2025

Events and Exhibitions

Untitled-4 (1)
The 2024 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists Exhibition

Venue: 9/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Date: 8 – 16 May 2024
Opening hours: 11am-7pm
Admission: Free

Untitled-4 (1)
The 2024 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Gala Dinner and Charity Auction

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central
Date: 17 May 2024
Time: 7pm – Late
Ticket Sales: art@sovereignartfoundation.com

Judges

To be announced.

Nominators

Azerbaijan (Republic of)/
Amina Melikova

Amina Melikova

Bhutan/
Pema Tshering
Pema Tshering image

Pema Tshering

Artist

Pema (Tintin) Tshering is an artist from Thimphu, Bhutan whose work is presented through illustration, film, graphic novels, sculpture, installation, design, and painting. Tintin is one of the founding members of Voluntary Artist Studio Thimphu (VAST) set up in 1998 in Thimphu, Bhutan, where he continues to contribute as an educator, mentor and is on the Executive board. VAST was established as the first and only contemporary art organisation which philanthropically offers informal educational programmes for young people and adults. www.pematshering.com

Bangladesh/
Sadya Mizan
Sadya Mizan image

Sadya Mizan

Independent Curator and Researcher

Sadya Mizan a pioneering curator from Bangladesh and project director of Uronto Artist Community. As a researcher she has contributed globally to a wide range of distinguished institutions and organisations including the Samdani Art Foundation, Asia Art Archive, Edinburgh University, University of Amsterdam, Visva Barhati Shantiniketa, Savvy Contemporary – Berlin, the Office for Contemporary Art – Norway, as well as UN migration wing IOM and the British Council, amongst others. She is a fellow at the Akademie of Schloss Solitude in Germany and a Commonwealth Scholar. She advocates for preservation of cultural heritage, oral history archive and motivate contemporary social creative practices. www.urontoart.org

Kehkasha Sabah
Kehkasha Sabah image

Kehkasha Sabah

Independent Curator and Researcher

Kehkasha Sabah (b.1985, Bangladesh) is an independent curator and researcher with a decade of experience working locally and internationally. Her artistic approach intersects art, culture, pedagogy, technology, policy, archiving, and art policy discussions shaping new narratives. Kehkasha’s contributions to national and international art projects have garnered acclaim. Her recognition in the Swedish contemporary art journal, C-Print, in 2021, underscores her expertise and success. She is currently, pursuing her academic research to develop curatorial methodologies in post-pandemic and posthuman societies, and she is also a Curatorial fellow in the ‘Art Exchange: Moving Image 2024’ UK.

Nadia Samdani MBE
Nadia Samdani MBE image

Nadia Samdani MBE

President and Co-founder, Samdani Art Foundation

Nadia Samdani MBE is an art collector and philanthropist. She is Co-founder and President of the Samdani Art Foundation and Director of the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS). She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022 for her support of the arts in South Asia and the UK. She has received the Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters by the Cultural Ministry of France, and the prestigious Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. She is a founding member of The Harvard University Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute’s Arts Advisory Council and part of Tate’s South Asia Acquisitions Committee, Tate’s International Council, and Alserkal Avenue’s Programming Committee.  www.samdani.com.bd

Hong Kong/
Cyrus Lamprecht
Cyrus Lamprecht image

Cyrus Lamprecht

Curator

Cyrus Lamprecht attended Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, where he earned a Master of Research (Art) degree in Theory and Philosophy. He has showcased mixed-media artworks that include installations and performances in London, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Lamprecht focuses on themes of existence and solitude in his artistic endeavors.

Lamprecht delivered a TEDx speech on absurdism and released his debut novel in 2018. He contributes art criticism and essays to literary platforms in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. He has curated projects including “The Elegance of Solitude” and “Aquarius: The Jar of Pandora.” In 2023, he published an anthology titled “The Durum Wheat.” https://linktr.ee/cyruslamprecht

Chloe Chow
Chloe Chow image

Chloe Chow

Head of Exhibition and Programmes, WMA

Hong Kong-born curator Chloe Chow is now the Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at WMA, a non-profit platform dedicated to facilitating greater understanding of Hong Kong through lens-based art form. Her curatorial approach focuses on making connections between different visual culture items to explore the social concerns and sentiments within. Her recent exhibitions include ‘Chan Hau Chun: Silent Sojourns‘ (WMA, 2024), ‘Yip Kin Bon: Overriding the Light of Day’ (WMA, 2023), and co-curated exhibitions ‘Hong Kong: Here and Beyond’ (M+, 2021). Recent publications include Ling Pui Sze: Every Little Unit (2022) and Hong Kong Visual Culture: The M+ Guide (2022).

India/
Kurchi Dasgupta

Kurchi Dasgupta

Kazakhstan/
Vladislav Sludskiy
Vladislav Sludskiy image

Vladislav Sludskiy

Curator, Art Consultant

Prior to his role as an art consultant, Vladislav Sludskiy served as a director and curator of Ethan Cohen Gallery in New York, where he organized and co-curated solo and group exhibitions.

A native of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Vladislav co-founded and ran ARTBAT FEST, an annual international contemporary art festival serving the Central Asian region since 2010. He is the co-founder and curator for the Eurasian Cultural Alliance (ECA) which has been spearheading educational initiatives across the region and fostering cultural exchange between Kazakhstan and the global art community.

Qazart.com / cultura.kz

Malaysia/
Zena Khan
Zena Khan image

Zena Khan

Curator

Curator of The AFK Collection, Zena Khan produces exhibitions and publications to build knowledge on emerging art ecologies. Selected museum publications include ‘Aku… Dalam Mencari Rukun’ (2018) published by National Visual Art Gallery Kuala Lumpur, ‘Siri Rasa Bertuhan’ (2014) published by Pahang State Museum, ‘Every Color is a Shade of Black’ (2024) Hamra Abbas’ monograph published by COMO Museum and the inaugural Malaysian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019). Selected international exhibitions include ‘Homing In’ (2021) commissioned by Arts Council England and Platform Asia (UK), ‘Past’ (2018) at Battersea Power Station and ‘Open House’ (2017) at Delfina Foundation. https://www.afkcollection.com

Lim Wei Ling
Lim Wei Ling image

Lim Wei Ling

Curator

A jewellery designer and art history major by training, Wei Ling has been duly recognised for her contribution and efforts towards the development of the Malaysian art scene, through numerous awards and nominations. In 2018, she was appointed by Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to curate and spearhead the country’s first pavilion at ‘The 58th La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale)’.

Nepal/
Sangeeta Thapa
Sangeeta Thapa image

Sangeeta Thapa

Founder/Director

Sangeeta Thapa founded Siddhartha Art Gallery in 1987 with eminent artist Shashikala Tiwari. She has curated over 600 shows of Nepali and international artists. She regularly gives consultations to collectors of Nepali art and initiates community art projects. She served on the Board of Patan Museum for six years and is a Fellow of the De Vos Institute of Arts Management. In 2009, she launched Nepal’s premier art event The Kathmandu International Arts Festival (KIAF) as a tri-annual event. In 2011, she established the Siddhartha Arts Foundation as a non-profit and organized the second edition of the Kathmandu International Arts Festival in 2012, through the Foundation.

In 2016, Ms. Thapa co-curated the first exhibition of contemporary Nepali art at the Moesgaard Museum in Arhus, Denmark.

In 2015, the Great Earthquakes struck Nepal causing a huge loss of lives and damage to homes and heritage sites. Taking this into account the third iteration of the Festival was postponed to 2017. In 2016, the Foundation decided to morph the Festival into a Triennale format and was recognized by the Biennale Foundation in Italy. The 2017 edition was curated by Philippe Van Cauteren from the S.M.A.K. Museum in Ghent, Belgium. The 2020 edition was also postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and took place in March 2022. The edition was led by the artistic director Cosmin Constinas from Para Site Hong Kong and Nepali curators Sheelasha Rajbhandari and Hitman Gurung.

In 2021 , as a precursor to to the Triennale a selection of the works were showcased at Para Site Hong Kong. Post the Triennale a selection of the works were showcased at SAAVY contemporary in Berlin. In the same year the Siddhartha Arts Foundation served as the co commissioner of the Nepal Pavilion at the Venice Biennale which featured the works of Ang Tsherin Sherpa. In December 2022 the Siddhartha Art Foundation showcased works by Nepali artists at the Kochi Biennale.

Ms. Thapa is the publisher of four volumes of poetry: Khulla Dhoka, Nirantar Khulla Dhoka, A Thousand Earths Thousand Skies, and Even the Moonlight can Burn. She has written a book on the drawings of Nepali artist Manuj Babu Mishra entitled ‘In the Eye of the Storm’ and has written essays on contemporary Nepali art in the Gallerie Magazine (India) and for the Nepal Art Now exhibition catalog printed by the Welt Museum, Vienna. She has also contributed her essays to Telling a Tale, a publication of women’s’ narratives, Nukta Art Magazine (Pakistan), and the VOW Magazine in Nepal. Ms. Thapa has been invited in the capacity of a speaker to Art Basel Hong Kong, New North-South Dialogue organized by the British Council and Manchester University in Sri Lanka, the Asian Curatorial Forum Dhaka, and to a panel on South Asian art organized by the Habiart Foundation, New Delhi.

In 2023, she received the President’s medal ‘Kala Sumbardhak Award’ for her contribution to uplifting and supporting the arts scene in the country and in the same year received the ‘Kala Prabhandak Award’ from the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts in recognition for promoting the arts of the country over 35 years.

Pakistan/
Adeel Uz Zafar
Adeel Uz Zafar image

Adeel Uz Zafar

Assistant Professor, Foundation Programme at Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, Karachi

Adeel uz Zafar is an artist, curator and art educator. Zafar holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from National College of Arts, Lahore. Zafar’s works have been featured in several national and international exhibitions including 11 solo shows and numerous group shows. He has also presented works in international art fairs and participated in both national and international residencies. He is represented by FOST Gallery, Singapore & Aicon Contemporary, NY. Zafar currently serves as a Faculty member at IVS,Karachi. Two of his nominees Ahmed Javed & Sameen Agha was awarded SAAP in 2019 & 2024. www.adeeluzzafar.com

 

 

Amra Ali
Amra Ali image

Amra Ali

Freelance Art Critic and Curator

Amra Ali is a Karachi based art critic and curator. She has been writing reviews and essays in local and international publications on art in Pakistan since 1900. She is a co-founder of Nukta Art, a first bi annual publication on art in Pakistan. She has been the secretary of AICA Pakistan, a subsidiary of the International art critics association, Paris. Amra has many curatorial projects to her credit, among them is the mini retrospective of Rasheed Araeen, titled, ‘Homecoming Rasheed Araeen’ in 2014-15, at the VM Gallery. She has edited the publication, Rasheed Araeen, Homecoming. The emphasis of her curatorial work is to locate links between her critique viz a viz gallery spaces.

Philippines/
Carlos Jr Quijon
Carlos Jr Quijon image

Carlos Jr Quijon

Curator, Philippine Pavilion, Venice Biennale 2024

Carlos Quijon, Jr. is an art historian, critic, and curator based between New York and Manila. He is a fellow of the research platform Modern Art Histories in and across Africa, South and Southeast Asia (MAHASSA), convened by the Getty Foundation’s Connecting Art Histories project. He writes exhibition reviews for Artforum and has essays published in e-flux, frieze, ArtReview Asia among others, and his research is part of the book From a History of Exhibitions Towards a Future of Exhibition-Making (Sternberg Press, 2019). He is the curator of the Philippine Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale.

Portia Placino
Portia Placino image

Portia Placino

Curator and Arts Writer

Portia Placino is a curator and independent arts writer based in Manila, Philippines. She currently runs the JCB Gallery at Philippine Women’s University. Her writings appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, ArtReview, ArtSG, Art+ Magazine, Spot.ph, Esquire Philippines, and several local and international academic publications. She received research and writing residencies and grants in the Philippines, Germany, Korea, and Belgium. She scrutinizes and situates marginal and off-center art practices including regional contemporary art, feminist perspectives, and sociopolitical currents in her curatorial work. Her writing projects examine the position of contemporary art in an embattled society. https://portiaplacino.com/

Rica Estrada-Uson
Rica Estrada-Uson image

Rica Estrada-Uson

Director, Visual Arts and Museum Division, Cultural Center of the Philippines
Regional/
Gary Mok

Gary Mok

Shormi Ahmed
Shormi Ahmed image

Shormi Ahmed

Art Practitioner

Shormi A. is an art practitioner from Hong Kong. She was the Head of Arts at Duddell’s Hong Kong and has executed several public art projects including Carnival – fundraiser for Amnesty International HK (Hong Kong), Art in the Bar for CoBo Social (Hong Kong). She curated Code Blue at the Taipei Contemporary Art Centre and co-curated 在/不在 | Negation of You (Taipei) at Nanhai Art Gallery. She studied at the University of Hong Kong and completed her MA in Curatorial Studies at the National Taipei University of Education (Taiwan). https://www.behance.net/shormia

Sofia Coombe
Sofia Coombe image

Sofia Coombe

Independent Curator

Sofia is an independent curator, researcher and art advisor who holds a Masters of Asian Art Histories from Goldsmiths University of London through LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. She spent over a decade in Southeast Asia, working in both the institutional and commercial realms of the regional arts ecosystem. Sofia is now based in London where she co-founded Art World Database, an online platform for Southeast Asian contemporary art, whilst also curating exhibitions with Peruke Projects, an art consultancy presenting curatorial projects for international contemporary artists. www.perukeprojects.com, www.artworlddatabase.com

Naima Morelli
Naima Morelli image

Naima Morelli

Journalist, Arts Writer

Naima Morelli is an arts writer and journalist specialized in contemporary art from Asia-Pacific and the MENA region.

She has written for the Financial Times, Al-Jazeera, The Art Newspaper, ArtAsiaPacific, Internazionale and Il Manifesto, among others, and she is a regular contributor to Plural Art Mag, Middle East Monitor and Middle East Eye as well as writing curatorial texts for galleries.
She is the author of three books on Southeast Asian contemporary art. www.naimamorelli.com

Sheida Ghomashchi
Sheida Ghomashchi image

Sheida Ghomashchi

Curator

Born and raised in 1980,Tehran, Iran, Sheida Ghomashchi works as an independent curator in Milan, Italy. She has been part of various projects including: Co-curator of “Dixit Algorizmi, The Garden of Knowledge”, the fisrt natioonal pavilion of Uzbekistan in Venice Biennale of Art, 2022.

Co- Curator of “ Dixit Algorizmi”, International exhibition, CCA, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 2021. Fellow at Floating University, Forensic Architecture Group, Berlin, Germany. Curator of “Archive Alive!”, Exhibition of Ramak Fazel, Kandovan, Pejman Foundation, Tehran, Iran. Fellow of “Ideas City – Detroit”, New Museum of New York, USA. Researcher in Urban Research program, BAUHAUS, Dessau, Germany.

Tanya Michele Amador
Tanya Michele Amador image

Tanya Michele Amador

Curator and Writer

Tanya is the co-founder of the website ArtWorldDatabase.com, a website dedicated to promoting and supporting Southeast Asian contemporary art. Before moving to London in 2020, she lived and worked in Singapore for 11 years where worked as an independent curator and published art writer. She holds a Masters degree from Goldsmiths University of London in Asian Art Histories and is dedicated to working with artists living in the diaspora and presenting curatorial projects as part of the Peruke Projects team. www.artworlddatabase.com

Lisa Botos
Lisa Botos image

Lisa Botos

Curator and Art Advisor

Lisa Botos has built a global career delivering art and culture for diverse entities, from foundations to artists to nations, including Swire, WYNG Foundation, and the Kingdom of Bhutan. In Hong Kong, she co-founded OOI BOTOS gallery and Art Unchained. In 2013, she served as guest curator for the Vladivostok Biennale of Visual Arts. As a senior editor at TIME, Lisa led an award-winning photo department. A founding partner of the advisory Private Partners & Co., Lisa counsels families on cultural legacy. She holds an MA with honors in international communication, focusing on visual culture, from American University, and is a fellow of Hong Kong University’s ACLP and BeFantastic ArtTech. Read more here.

Singapore/
Seet Yun Teng
Seet Yun Teng image

Seet Yun Teng

Curator

Seet Yun Teng is a Singapore-based curator, producer, and writer. A keen alignment to the material world and embodied processes underlies her approach. With an interest in alternative formats of exhibition-making and interdisciplinary collaborations, she has curated and produced across a range of exhibitions, events and platforms. These include Appetite, Arts-Business x Business-Arts Residencies, Feelers, NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore, Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, Supernormal, and Constance Howard Gallery and Goldsmiths Textile Collection London, amongst others. She received an Honourable Mention (Curator Category) in the 2021 IMPART Awards. www.yuntengseet.com

Daryl Goh
Daryl Goh image

Daryl Goh

Entrepreneur

Daryl Goh is a startup-advisor, angel investor and art critic/collector who holds 2 Masters Degrees and authored Design Innovation for Everyone (2023). Daryl is also the designer behind Asia’s first-ever phy-gital retail experience – Zhuang: Home of Singapore Designers that kickstarted an industry trend towards digital retail spaces. The technopreneurship & fashion scholar previously started Singapore’s first free art residency, NPE Art Residency and has judged for multiple prominent art awards. www.darylgoh.com

South Korea/
Yoon Sub Kim

Yoon Sub Kim

JeongMee Yoon
JeongMee Yoon image

JeongMee Yoon

Professor

Born in Seoul, South Korea in 1969, she majored in painting at Seoul National University, Seoul, photography design at Hongik University, Seoul, and studied at the School of Visual Arts, New York, USA.

As a winner of the Daum Prize in 2006, she held a successful solo exhibition at Kumho Museum of Art in South Korea, and ‘The Pink and Blue Project‘ book was published by the Parkgeonhi Foundation (Seoul, South Korea) in 2007, and ‘Animal Companions’ book was published by IANN publisher (Seoul, South Korea) in 2015.

Also, In 2011, She won the first Prize at The Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Hong Kong with ‘The Pink & Blue Project II’, and the Ilwoo Photography Award in Seoul, South Korea. www.jeongmeeyoon.com

Gun Soo Choi
Gun Soo Choi image

Gun Soo Choi

Photographer, Image Critic and Professor

For 40 years, Gun Soo Choi has been an image critic, photographer, and university professor. he has published 12 photographic books and held 10 individual exhibitions.

Taiwan/
Nobuo Takamori
Nobuo Takamori image

Nobuo Takamori

Independent Curator
Thailand/
Jiradej Meemalai and Pornpilai Meemalai
Jiradej Meemalai and Pornpilai Meemalai image

Jiradej Meemalai and Pornpilai Meemalai

Artist and Curator

Jiandyin, interdisciplinary duo artists and curators, live and work in Ratchaburi, Thailand, grantees of the Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, New York, 2009, invited committees of 22nd Silpa Bhirasri Creativity Grants, Art Centre Silpakorn University, Thailand. Exhibitions include: 2024 FutureOurs Art2030, New York, Nomadic, Jim Thompson Art Center, Thailand, 2024 Jakarta Biennale, Indonesia, 2021 Busan Sea Art Festival, South Korea, 2019 Asian Art Biennial, Taichung, Taiwan. They found Baan Noorg Collaborative Arts and Culture, a non-profit artist initiative, located in Ratchaburi, Thailand, recently participated in Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai, 2023 and documenta fifteen, 2022, Germany.

jiandyin.com, baannoorg.org

Sakda Chantanvanich
Sakda Chantanvanich image

Sakda Chantanvanich

Art Collector and Patron

Sakda Chantanavanich is a Bangkok-based collector deeply engaged with Thailand’s contemporary art scene. For nearly a decade, he has been a key supporter of artists, collectives, curators, and art spaces, including Speedy Grandma and Waiting You Curator Lab, through funding for production, activities, and exhibitions. Committed to fostering artistic freedom, Sakda prioritizes collecting works of less conventional media on themes of environmental issues and social concerns by young and pre-emerging artists from Thailand and Southeast Asia. His collection includes works from Ruangsak Anuwatwimon, Aracha Cholitgul, Chris Chong Chan Fui, Ho Rui An, and Chulayarnnon Siriphol.

Tom Van Blarcom

Tom Van Blarcom

Brian Curtin
Brian Curtin image

Brian Curtin

Art Critic and Educator

Brian Curtin is an Irish-born art critic and lecturer. From 2007-18 he worked as an independent curator of contemporary art and now works on commission. He holds a Ph.D. in studio art from the University of Bristol and has been based in Bangkok since 2000. He has lectured in art history, visual culture, and studio courses at the Faculty of Architecture of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, since 2006. Brian is one of the curatorial team for the Bangkok Art Biennale 2024. www.brianacurtin.com

Türkiye/
Fisun Yalçınkaya

Fisun Yalçınkaya

Matt Hanson
Matt Hanson image

Matt Hanson

Art writer

Matt A Hanson is an art writer, freelance journalist and editor from Massachusetts, based in Istanbul since 2016. He has participated in the editorial productions of every major cultural institution in Turkey, including Salt, Arter, Sakip Sabancı Museum, Istanbul Modern, and a host of others, while producing a regular variety of articles on topics ranging from literature in translation to the history of minorities. As a contributor to ArtAsiaPacific, Artforum, ARTnews, Artnet News, Hyperallergic and many leading arts and culture publications internationally, he covers the art world as the result of critical and long-term community engagement in Turkey, Europe, America and beyond. www.fictivemag.com

Testimonials

Sameen Agha | 2024 Grand Prize Winner image
Michelle Fung | 2024 Vogue Hong Kong Women's Art Prize Winner image
Demet | 2024 Public Vote Prize Winner image
Alisa Chunchue | 2023 Vogue Hong Kong Women's Art Prize Winner image
Parul Gupta | 2023 Grand Prize Winner image
Cop Shiva | 2023 Public Vote Prize Winner image
01

Sameen Agha | 2024 Grand Prize Winner

It is an incredible honour to be awarded The 2024 Sovereign Asian Art Grand Prize. I am thrilled and deeply grateful for this recognition. This award is a significant milestone for my career, and I am profoundly appreciative and thankful for the acknowledgment and support. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Adeel Uz Zafar for nominating me and believing in my practice. It is a huge privilege to showcase my work on the prestigious platform provided by The Sovereign Art Foundation

02

Michelle Fung | 2024 Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner. I would like to extend the gratitude to Kurt Chan my nominator, the Sovereign Art Foundation team and esteemed judges for understanding me. Finally, of course to Vogue who supports this prize. It’s not easy to be an artist, and it’s even more difficult to do it in a woman’s body. Thank you for recognising that”

03

Demet | 2024 Public Vote Prize Winner

“I am incredibly grateful, heartfully thankful for selecting me as a finalist and to be the recipient of the Public Vote Prize. I am forever thankful for this not only for the recognition, but also the opportunity to share my work and take part in the Sovereign Foundation’s noble cause.  To the SAF team, please continue to carry on the foundation’s objectives and goals. To the dedicated team, I really appreciate all your hard work”
04

Alisa Chunchue | 2023 Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner

“Staying true to oneself and fearlessly facing physical and mental challenges have been fundamental to my practice. This award marks a memorable moment in my career. I wholeheartedly dedicate this Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize to all incredible women who exhibit unwavering dedication to artistic pursuits and achieve in every role we undertake.”

05

Parul Gupta | 2023 Grand Prize Winner

“It is a moment of great pride and honour for me to receive this award, which in the past has nominated and awarded artists who have distinct and inspiring practices… I would like to add here that I do not come from an art background, and I started practising art much later in life. I took many detours before I realised that it’s only through art that I can live a life I desire for myself – a life that is truly independent.”

06

Cop Shiva | 2023 Public Vote Prize Winner

“I’m thrilled to be this year’s Sovereign Asian Art Prize Public Vote Prize Winner. I am very proud to be part of this great platform for the region’s art and artists, and grateful for the opportunity to engage with the Asian art community in Hong Kong – the heart of the continent.”

FAQ

01
What are the benefits to participating artists?

There are numerous benefits to participating artists, including:

  • Two cash prizes available: US$30,000 Grand Prize and USD1,000 Public Vote Prize.
  • Inclusion in public exhibition in high-profile venue in Hong Kong.
  • Increased profile through multi-channel marketing campaign.
  • Artwork included in charity sale and promoted to art buyers, with artist receiving 50% of sale proceeds.
  • Opportunity to network with fellow artists across the region.
  • Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful project that raises funds for an important charitable cause.
02
As an artist, how can I enter the Prize?

Entry to the Prize is by nomination only. If you wish to enter, we recommend you connect with one of our regional nominators and ask them to consider nominating you.

03
Are their any specific artwork requirements?

In order to be eligible for the Prize, we require that artworks adhere to the following:

  • 2D artworks cannot exceed 150cm x 150cm.
  • 3D artworks cannot exceed 150cm x 50cm x 50cm.
  • We do not accept purely audio, video or other time-based media art or performance art. Multi-media works which contain a video or media component will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
04
How can I become a nominator?

We are always looking to expand our network of nominators. Nominators should have a certain expertise in art from Asia-Pacific, and have no commercial affiliation with their nominees. To apply to be a nominator, please get in touch.

05
Is it free for artists to participate?

It is free for artists to enter the Prize online. Once shortlisted, artists are responsible for any production costs associated with their shortlisted artwork. Artists are also responsible for their own shipping costs to Hong Kong. For details, please read section 6.2 of our T&Cs.

06
Where do artwork sales proceeds go?

Proceeds from artwork sales are spilt equally between the artist and The Sovereign Art Foundation. We use our portion to help fund our expressive arts programmes for children from low-income backgrounds and with special educational needs. Learn more about our mission here.

Supporters

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Prize Winners and Previous Finalists

2024

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Sameen Agha
Pakistan
Sameen Agha art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Demet
Philippines
Demet art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner
Michelle Fung
Hong Kong
Michelle Fung art

2023

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Parul Gupta
India
Parul Gupta art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Cop Shiva
India
Cop Shiva art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner
Alisa Chunchue
Thailand
Alisa Chunchue art

2022

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Azin Zolfaghari
Iran
Azin Zolfaghari art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Faezeh Baharloo
Iran
Faezeh Baharloo art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner
Marium Agha
Pakistan
Marium Agha art

2021

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Li Binyuan
China
Li Binyuan art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Imtiaj Rasel
Bangladesh
Imtiaj Rasel art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize Winner
Rithika Merchant
India
Rithika Merchant art

2020

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Alex Seton
Australia
Alex Seton art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Made Wiguna Valasara
Indonesia
Made Wiguna Valasara art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Prize Winner
Saba Qizilbash
Pakistan
Saba Qizilbash art

2019

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Ahmed Javed
Pakistan
Ahmed Javed art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Munawar Ali Syed
Pakistan
Munawar Ali Syed art
Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Prize Winner
Fuxiaotong
China
Fuxiaotong art

2018

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Halima Cassell
Pakistan
Halima Cassell art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Onaiz Taji
Pakistan
Onaiz Taji art

2017

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Hongbo Li
China
Hongbo Li art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Yogie Achmad Ginanjar
Indonesia
Yogie Achmad Ginanjar art

2016

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Baptist Coelho
India
Baptist Coelho art
Public Vote Prize Winner
Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
Philippines
Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan art

2014

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Anida Yoeu Ali
Cambodia
Anida Yoeu Ali art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Alia Bilgrami
Pakistan
Alia Bilgrami art

2013

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Wong Adrian
Hong Kong
 Wong Adrian art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Chong-Il Woo
Korea
Chong-Il Woo art

2012

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Gutierrez + Portefaix
Korea
Gutierrez + Portefaix art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Mark Salvatus
Philippines
Mark Salvatus art

2011

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
JeongMee Yoon
Hong Kong
JeongMee Yoon art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Chong-il Woo
Korea
Chong-il Woo art

2010

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Somapala Pothupitiye
Sri Lanka
Somapala Pothupitiye art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Anthony Del Castillo
Philippines
Anthony Del Castillo art

2009

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Debbie Han
Korea
Debbie Han art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Miguel Payano
China
Miguel Payano art

2008

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Chow Chun Fai
Hong Kong
Chow Chun Fai art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Mor Mor
Myanmar
Mor Mor art

2007

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Kumi Machida
Japan
Kumi Machida art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Haris Purnomo
Indonesia
Haris Purnomo art

2006

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Uttaporn Nimmalaikaew
Thailand
Uttaporn Nimmalaikaew art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Lam Tung Pang
Hong Kong
Lam Tung Pang art

2005

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Tsang Kin Wah
Hong Kong
Tsang Kin Wah art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Yip Siu Ka
Hong Kong
Yip Siu Ka art

2004

Prize Winners and Previous Finalists arrow
Grand Prize Winner
Jeffrey du Vallier d’Aragon Aranita
Hong Kong
Jeffrey du Vallier d’Aragon Aranita art
Schoeni Prize Winner
Simon Birch
Hong Kong
Simon Birch art