BOSS has unveiled a new award recognising groundbreaking work in contemporary art.
Marco Falcioni, Senior Vice President of Creative Direction at HUGO BOSS.
The BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement, created in partnership with Art Basel Awards, was announced last night during the inaugural Art Basel Awards Medalist Reception at Kunstmuseum Basel.
This annual prize will be presented as part of the Art Basel Awards cycle. It honours a recent work, produced within the last 18 months, that has made a significant cultural impact across art, technology, social dialogue, and identity. The award reflects the values of BOSS: boldness, authenticity, ambition, and responsibility.
The recipient will receive a total of US$100,000. Half of the prize will be directed to a cause or community chosen by the artist. The remaining US$50,000 will be used to fund a new project or cultural activation, co-developed with BOSS.
The award is open to all living artists working in any medium, including those already recognised as Art Basel Awards Medalists. Final selection will be made by a jury appointed by BOSS and Art Basel, which includes Marco Falcioni, Senior Vice President of Creative Direction at HUGO BOSS.
Falcioni said the award represents an extension of the brand’s commitment to cultural engagement. “It aligns BOSS with forward-thinking and culturally relevant creativity, echoing our brand values of innovation, style leadership, and authenticity. The BOSS Award recipient will also be a ‘BOSS’ who shares these qualities.”
Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Chair of Art Basel Awards, described the new prize as “a powerful addition to the Art Basel Awards ecosystem”, one that spotlights work influencing the cultural mainstream and driving real-world impact.
The BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement will be presented alongside the Art Basel Awards Gold Medals in December 2025, during the Official Night of the Art Basel Awards in Miami Beach.
The introduction of the award marks a deepening of BOSS’s involvement in the art world. With over 30 years of art sponsorship, the brand continues to support emerging and established voices pushing the boundaries of contemporary culture.
Art Basel Awards, launched earlier this year, honours creative professionals across nine categories, from artists and curators to institutions and patrons. The programme aims to recognise and amplify practices shaping the future of art globally.
