17 years ago, the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, in collaboration with Whitechapel Gallery was launched as a biannual award. It is the only visual art prize of its kind and aims to promote and support artists identifying as women based in the UK, giving them breathing room and space to help push along their  development as artists.

The winner is awarded a six-month Italian residency tailored to fit the artist and their winning proposal for the Prize. During the residency, which is organised by Collezione Maramotti, the artist has the opportunity to realise an ambitious new project which is presented in major solo exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, UK and at Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, Italy, which then acquires it. Previous winners include Emma Talbot and Laure Prouvost.

On Friday, five shortlisted artists were announced for the ninth edition of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women: Rebecca Bellantoni, Bhajan Hunjan, Onyeka Igwe, Zinzi Minott and Dominique White.

This past weekend the artists travelled to Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, Italy, for the announcement as well as to celebrate the opening of the major artwork The Age/L’Età, by the eighth winner of the prize, Emma Talbot. The Age/L’Età tours from the Whitechapel Gallery where it was unveiled this summer.


Emma Talbot the 2019 winner of the Prize
 
Artists were shortlisted by a judging panel consisting of gallerist Rozsa Farkas, artist Claudette Johnson, writer Derica Shields and collector Maria Sukkar. The winner will be announced in Spring 2023. 
 
On behalf of the judging panel, Bina von Stauffenberg, chair of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women jury, said: “Today, as women’s rights continue to be challenged, it could not be more urgent or relevant to ensure that women artists are championed, and heard on the world stage. For more than a decade, this unique prize has successfully enabled women-identifying artists at different stages of their careers to develop their potential in extraordinary ways. Through a six-month Italian residency and the resources to create a major new commission, it offers critical time, space and support.”