Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2025 sponsored by Schroders
Timed Online Auction, 31 January - 13 March 2025
Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2025 sponsored by Schroders
About the SessionStrauss & Co are delighted to present The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2025, sponsored by Schroders, benefit auction.
The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2025 supports contemporary artists working in Africa or within the African diaspora by expanding their international reach in the global art market while also raising funds for arts education initiatives across the continent. A collaboration between The Sovereign Art Foundation and the Norval Foundation, the Prize celebrates the work of some of the most significant contemporary artists today.
You can view the work by the 28 finalists at an exhibition at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, open to the public until 20 April 2025. All works are offered on the Strauss & Co online auction, closing Thursday 13 March 2025, from 2 pm. The auction aims to generate significant funds for both the shortlisted artists and Norval Foundation’s Learning Centre, with proceeds split equally.
Norval Foundation and The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) are delighted to announce Modupeola Fadugba as the Grand Prize Winner for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2025, sponsored by Schroders. With her work, Portrait Of An Artist At Ease, Modupeola Fadugba from Nigeria, is the 4th winner of the prize, which seeks to celebrate the practices of leading contemporary artists and aims to benefit them by further increasing their exposure to an international audience. As well as the honour, Modupeola Fadugba will be awarded a cash prize to the value of US$35,000, the opportunity for a solo exhibition at Norval Foundation in Cape Town, and a two-week cultural residency at Outset Contemporary Art Fund in London. In addition, the very first winner of the FAMM Women's Prize was awarded to DuduBloom More, the highest-rated female artist (excluding the Grand Prize Winner), for her work Contending With Control.
For Shipping enquiries, please contact: Jenna-Leigh Kleingeld +27 (0)87 654 5900 accounts@norvalfoundation.org
For Condition enquiries, please contact: Carmen Joubert +27 (0)67 375 7791 carmen.joubert@norvalfoundation.org
About this Item
Notes
If I Knew (Swahili: Laiti Ningejua) is a figurative painting that reflects on marriage and societal dynamics in Tanzania, with the intention of resonating across Africa and beyond. The work explores the contrast between women's expectations of marriage—rooted in dreams and fantasies—and the harsh reality, depicting marriage as an empty box that requires mutual effort to fill. Using marriage as a metaphor, the painting also delves into broader themes of leadership, family negotiations, and Africa's ongoing struggles. The colours blue, grey, and brown represent the land, sky, and global context, while charcoal is used to evoke Tanzania's geographical and cultural essence alongside the experience of being a Black African. The octopus, symbolizing the male figure, reflects the limited fulfilment of social contracts and the complexities of negotiation. Through this work, the artist aims to capture the disillusionment that follows after decisions are made, revealing the tension and realities of these intricate societal and personal dynamics.
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