Renowned Moroccan artist Amina Agueznay has clinched the coveted Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2024 for her extraordinary creation, “Portal #1,” securing the highest votes from our distinguished panel of judges.
The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (NSAAP) 2024 is an award dedicated to recognizing contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. It enlisted a board of independent arts professionals, comprising curators, writers, and academics actively involved in diverse artistic regions. Amidst 375 submissions, a discerning panel of five art judges, including Ashraf Jamal, (Writer and Researcher at ArtBankSA and University of Johannesburg), Heba El Kayal, (Chief Curatorial Consultant at Norval Foundation), Marie-Ann Yemsi (Independent exhibition curator and contemporary art consultant), Ngaire Blankenberg (Founder and Director, Institute for Creative Repair) and also Sean O’Toole (Writer, Editor and Curator). They have meticulously shortlisted 27 finalists from 17 countries across Africa and its diaspora, including South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Rwanda, among others.
The forthcoming Exhibition will showcase the works of these finalists, featuring diverse artworks from painting, mixed media, sculpture, and photography.
Expressing immediate satisfaction with the prize, Judge Marie-Ann Yemsi remarked, “As a jury member since the first edition, it is gratifying to witness the growing appeal of NSAAP for artists across the continent and the diasporas.” Yemsi also underscored the prize’s evolution in its third edition, emphasizing its positive impact on the careers of previous winners and the visibility it provides through the Norval Foundation’s group exhibition.
The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize seeks to promote contemporary artists and elevate their global visibility. This year, the organizers have notably increased the Grand Prize to US$35,000 and allowed the winner to host a solo exhibition at Norval Foundation in Cape Town.
From February 14 to May 15, 2024, the public can admire the shortlisted artworks at Norval Foundation during the Finalists Exhibition. The artist with the highest combined votes also receives the Public Vote Prize of US$2,000.
Beyond individual recognition, the broader objective of the Prize is to generate substantial funds for the shortlisted artists and Norval Foundation’s Learning Centre through an online auction hosted by Sotheby’s, which took place from February 13 to 20.
As part of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair Programming, the Exhibition Opening and winners’ announcement will be an exclusive invite-only event for VIP guests of the ICTAF, finalist artists, as well as their nominators.
