The 7th Edition of the Renowned AXA Art Prize US is Open for 2024 Submissions

Figurative painting continues to be a dominant force in contemporary art. There is no way around it, and in the midst of so many dynamic cultural movements and in the midst of social unrest, the painter and the figure seem like a conversation that continues to be worth having, more essential than ever. One of the great places to see the next generation of painters (and juried by some of the most established painters in America) is the AXA Art Prize, a submission-based prize that honors paintings, drawings and printmaking by undergraduate and graduate art students around the USA. 

Without further ado, AXA XL is pleased to announce the seventh edition of the AXA Art Prize in the United States. The competition, which is juried by some of the most renown artists and art curators in the country, is open to figurative paintings, drawings and prints created by undergraduate and graduate art students in the US. The submission period ends March 6, 2024, at 11:59 PM EDT

Since its launch in 2018, the AXA Art Prize US has become a career-launching platform for young and emerging artists whose work is judged by some of the most influential art curators, critics, and collectors in the country.

Commenting, Lucy Pilko, CEO AXA XL Americas said: "The extraordinary talent showcased at this exhibition remains unmatched. Collaborating with esteemed art institutions and artists, we take pride in discovering, highlighting, and honoring the next generation of visionary artists."

The Prize is juried in three rounds: all submissions are first evaluated by Regional Juries drawn from the AXA Art Prize Strategic Advisory Board, a collection of 30 studio art programs, including Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), California College of the Arts, Parsons School of Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Pratt Institute and the Savannah College of Art and Design. A total of 40 artists will be shortlisted by an Exhibition Jury composed of curators from the country’s leading museums.

The 40 finalists will comprise the AXA Art Prize US Exhibition, which goes on view in New York in November 2024. Finally, the First Prize and Second Prize will be selected by three renowned contemporary artists and will received $10,000 and $5,000 awards respectively.

The breadth and stature of its Exhibition Juries and Prize Juries have been a hallmark of the Prize since its inception. In the past six years, the Exhibition Jury has featured curators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the New Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, the Brooklyn Museum, Gagosian Gallery, the Hammer Museum, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The Prize Jury is equally impressive, with contemporary art icons including Jules de Balincourt, Sanford Biggers, Will Cotton, John Currin, Nicole Eisenman, Rachel Feinstein, Eric Fischl, Damian Loeb, Arcmanoro Niles, Erik Parker, Nicolas Party, Elizabeth Peyton, Calida Rawles, Peter Saul, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sherald, Laurie Simmons, Mickalene Thomas, Salman Toor, and Robin F. Williams serving as jurors.

"As we embark on the seventh edition of the Prize in the US, I am honored to initiate the call for submissions for what promises to be another powerful figurative art exhibition. The ongoing commitment to recognizing and supporting emerging talent remains a cornerstone of our mission. Collaborating with museums, galleries, universities, and individual collectors, we strive to protect and preserve art, ensuring its enduring legacy for future generations," said Jennifer Schipf, Global Chief Underwriting Officer for Fine Art & Specie, AXA XL.

For more information on eligibility, award notification and submission process, go to axaartprize.com or email [email protected]. Follow the new AXA Art Prize account on Instagram.