Arte Laguna Prize: 43 artists awarded Special Prizes ahead of 20th edition exhibition
VENICE, Italy —
The organizers of the Arte Laguna Prize have announced the recipients of the Special Prizes for the competition’s 20th edition. A total of 43 artists have been selected across 13 distinct award categories, marking a significant expansion in the prize’s network of international partners. The awards highlight a growing trend of collaboration between the creative sector and diverse industries, ranging from manufacturing to environmental sustainability.
The selection process involved partners from eight different countries, including museums, art galleries, and corporate entities. While the prize has traditionally focused on international contemporary art, this year’s edition is notable for the inclusion of six partners not traditionally linked to the art world. These entities, including wineries and tech companies, have integrated artistic talent into product development, advertising campaigns, and specialized research projects.
The winners span a wide range of disciplines, including painting, digital installation, and performance art. Significant awards in the “Business for Art” category include collaborations with Ventana in the United States, which commissioned digital works for large-scale display screens, and Ghisolana Winery in Italy, which focused on product label design. In the realm of professional development, jobs and residencies were awarded by partners such as Litix (Italy), NY20+ (China), and BigCi (Australia), providing artists with resources to explore specific building materials like glass, ceramics, and textiles.
A distinct focus on sustainability characterizes several of the new awards. Collaborations with Cial, the Italian National Consortium for Aluminum Packaging Recycling, and Il Cerchio, a Venice-based association supporting social reintegration, underscore the prize’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility. These specific awards require artists to engage with themes of recycling and community support, moving the artistic practice toward tangible social impact.
The competition jury has also finalized the selection of 120 finalist artists. Their works, alongside the projects of the Special Prize winners, will be displayed at the Arsenale Nord in Venice. This major exhibition is scheduled to take place from November 14 to December 6, 2026, combining the results of the 2025 and 2026 editions into a single comprehensive showcase of emerging global talent.
The evolution of the Arte Laguna Prize reflects a broader shift in how cities and industries value creative input. By embedding artists directly into manufacturing and architectural research processes—rather than limiting them to gallery spaces—the initiative bridges the gap between cultural production and industrial utility. For the urban environment, this suggests a future where construction and product design are increasingly influenced by artistic critique and aesthetic experimentation, particularly regarding the reuse of materials and the activation of historic spaces like the Arsenale.
Pre-applications for the 2026 edition are currently open. The organization continues to expand its news network, aiming to foster further interactions between curators, entrepreneurs, and the global artistic community.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
This piece provides a clear roundup of the 2025 Arte Laguna Prize winners, spotlighting diverse works from digital art to architectural installations. The structure is concise, offering basic information on each winner without delving into curatorial themes or jury rationales. While the article serves its informational role, it lacks critical framing—why these selections matter in today’s artistic or spatial discourse, or how they echo (or defy) global trends in sustainability, identity, or AI-influenced design. There’s also minimal engagement with the architectural implications of some winning works, missing an opportunity to bridge art and spatial practice. That said, the international scope and brief artist descriptions will be helpful for readers skimming for inspiration. For future editions, contextualizing the award’s evolution, jury philosophy, or comparative past winners would elevate the piece’s archival value. Linking back to ArchUp’s existing coverage of art-meets-architecture could also enhance internal authority.
