The 2026 ars viva prizewinners have been announced: this year, the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft is awarding the prize to Nazanin Noori (*1991), Ryan Cullen (*1992) and Prateek Vijan (*1991).
The award amounts to a total of 120,000 euros and includes two exhibitions - at Marta Herford and Kunstverein Braunschweig - an artist residency at Fogo Island Arts (Canada), prize money and the publication of a bilingual catalogue.
This year's jury, chaired by Ulrich Sauerwein, consisted of members of the Visual Arts Committee of the Kulturkreis as well as representatives of the partner institutions: Ann Kristin Kreisel (Marta Herford), Cathrin Mayer and Junia Thiede (Kunstverein Braunschweig) and Jeremy Shaw (Fogo Island Arts). Anna Schneider (DAS MINSK) accompanied the jury as an external expert advisor. Rodger Masou (Managing Director) and Min-young Jeon (Curatorial Director) took part on behalf of the Kulturkreis.
Marta Herford
Opening: 13th March 2026
Duration: 14th March until 28th June 2026
In addition to the prizewinners, ten other artists were shortlisted for the ars viva prize this year:
Jakob Brugge
Keta Gavasheli
Jonas Höschl
Irina Jasnowski Pascual
Simon Lässig
Thuy Tien Nguyen
Monilola Olayemi Ilupeju
Xavier Robles de Medina
Gianna Surangkanjanajai
Theresa Weber
The ars viva prize is sponsored by the Péter Horváth Foundation. Its founder, Prof. Dr. Péter Horváth, fled from Hungary to Germany as a young student in 1956 and became a successful scientist and entrepreneur. But he also loved art. And the promotion of young talent was always a particular concern of his. The Péter Horváth Foundation therefore promotes exchange between Hungary and Germany as well as projects by young economists and aspiring artists.
