Artissima 2018: Winners and Highlights

Calla Henkel and Max Pitegoff at Cabinet
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

In the days following the 25th edition of Artissima in Turin, many of the fair exhibitors were returning home with a gain, and with a lot more work planned for the future.

An example are the artists – and their galleries – who were awarded during the days of Artissima 2018, and it is worth looking back at the artwork they installed at the fair.

Some of the prizes were bound to the different sections of the fair. Artissima’s identity has been shaped by its successful commitment both in re-evaluating artwork from the past, and in betting on new compelling artists.
And in fact, the Sardi per l’Arte Back to the Future Prize, dedicated to the gallery with the most interesting project in terms of historical importance and display, has been awarded ex-aequo to artists Rolf Julius and Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt, represented by Thomas Bernard-Cortex Athletico, Paris and ChertLüdde, Berlin, respectively.

Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt at ChertLüdde
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

Rolf Julius at Thomas Bernard – Cortex Athletico
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

Pedro Neves Marques at Umberto Di Marino
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

As for the younger artists, the illy Present Future Prize – promoted by illycaffè and celebrating its 18th edition in 2018 – was assigned to the most significant work in the Present Future section: artist Pedro Neves Marques, presented by Umberto di Marino (Naples), was awarded by an international jury composed of Lorenzo Benedetti, curator of Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, director of Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art of Turin, and Kirsty Ogg, director of New Contemporaries in London.

In partnership with the new Drawing section, the Refresh Irinox Prize was assigned to Francesc Ruiz, presented by García | Galleria, Madrid; while Tomás Saraceno – presented by Pinksummer from Genoa – is the winner the OGR Award, selected among 15 individual projects from the Sound section.

Two more prizes were assigned with a focus on younger artists.
Rodrigo Hernández, presented by Madragoa from Lisbon, won the second edition of the Campari Art Prize, assigned to an artist under 35, selected from all those involved in the 8 sections of the fair; while Georgia Sagri, presented by Anthony Reynolds, London, is the winner of the Ettore and Ines Fico Prize, also dedicated to a young artist participating in the fair.

Lastly, Bruna Esposito (FL Gallery, Milan) was selected by a jury of professionals with expertise in the fields of art and food innovation for the first edition of the EDIT Dinner Prize.

Aurélie Pétrel at Ceysson & Bénétière
Present Future section
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

Alejandra Hernandez at Laveronica
Ph. Guido Lovisolo / Artissima

Looking back at Artissima 2018 as a whole – and given the size of the art fair – there were many more interesting artists. Some of them were also shortlisted for these prizes – such as Alejandra Hernandez (Laveronica) who was a young runner-up for the illy Present Future Prize.

As a participant in the #ArtissimaLive newsroom, Droste Effect magazine would like to offer here an insightful gallery of highlights from Artissima 2018, selected by curator Annalisa Pellino, that will help summarize the art fair experience and put it into focus.

All photos by Guido Lovisolo / Artissima.