Emerging Artists Rhea Dillon and Joyce Joumaa Win Art Basel’s 2025 Baloise Prize
The Swiss establishment recognised the artists as noteworthy talent with a $30,000 CHF award each and acquisition by Frankfurt’s Museum für Moderne Kunst and Mudam Luxembourg. Save to My Ocula
This year’s Baloise Prize at Art Basel has been taken by London artist Rhea Dillon and Lebanese Canadian artist Joyce Joumaa.
As the legacy fair comes into its 55th year, Art Basel and Swiss insurance and banking group Baloise has awarded the prize to the two emerging artists, both of whom are showing in the fair’s Statement sector.
Exhibiting with London gallery Soft Opening, Dillon, whose work examines ‘the formation of Caribbean and British identities’, was selected for her presentation Leaning Figures, comprising wall-bound sculptures portraying ‘Black bodies at rest’.
The work was acquired by Frankfurt’s Museum für Moderne Kunst as part of the award.
Joumaa, who was the youngest artist showing at last year’s Venice Biennale, was selected for her presentation Periodic Sights, comprising photographs in repurposed fuse boxes of scenes in Tripoli and Beirut, commenting on the energy crisis in Lebanon.
Shown with Montreal’s Eli Kerr Gallery, the work was acquired by Mudam Luxembourg.
The Baloise Art Prize has recognised emerging artists since 1999, with last year’s award going to Hong Kong artist Tiffany Sia and Sudanese-Norwegian artist Ahmed Umar. —[O]
Main image: Exhibition view: Rhea Dillon, Periodic Sights, Soft Openings at Art Basel, Switzerland (16–22 June 2025). Photo: Mark Blower.
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