The Marianne Van Vyve Prize is an independent painting prize awarded each year to an outstanding graduate student from the Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp.
The annual prize was created in memory of Marianne Van Vyve by her daughter Delphine Cool and Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui. Its aim is to encourage young artists during the often challenging first years after graduation by offering them both financial support and online exposure. Each year, 5 leading figures in the art world are invited to attend the graduation show of the master students in the painting department and select a laureate. The proceedings are overseen by the Marianne Van Vyve Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, which hands out the cash prize of 5000 EUR.
2025 Edition
Jury Panel:
Thomas Bogaert, visual artist
Christine de Schaetzen, gallery director
Bart Dehaene, architect
Anne Judong, art historian and curator
Dennis Van Mol, art historian and curator
Masters:
Simon Aertsen
Billy Andriessens
Erlisa Çerkini
David Čumalo
William De Muynck
Joshua Hill
Karsten Krogh-Hansen, 2025 ex-aequo laureate
Mona Mariën
Diede Mondelaers, 2025 ex-aequo laureate
Anna Sastré García
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1. Who is Marianne Van Vyve?
Marianne Van Vyve (1943-1991) was a Belgian painter born in Antwerp. She was one of the few women to be represented by Galerie De Zwarte Panter where she had her first solo show in 1979. More about her work.
2. Why is there a Prize named after her?
Throughout her life, Marianne Van Vyve was all about breaking down boundaries and connecting with others. Her studios were meeting places, always bustling with friends, fellow artists and those in need of a little tea and sympathy. A Prize (we see it more as a grant) to help young painters in the often challenging first years after graduation seemed like a good way to keep her memory alive and to generate an interest in her work amongst the younger generation.
3. Who is behind the Prize?
The Prize was set up by Marianne Van Vyve’s daughter Delphine Cool and by Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui, a long-time friend. Delphine and Philip have no say in who receives the Prize: they invite a 5-member jury to elect the winning candidate. To make sure the proceedings are completely transparent, everything is overseen by the Marianne Van Vyve Fund which is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation and hands out the cash prize.
4. How much is the Prize?
The Prize is 5000 EUR, which the student is free to use at his or her own discretion. We thought about tying the Prize to a specific project but decided in the end to leave things open. This is about giving a young person time to think, to create and to find out who he or she wants to be in life.
5. Why is the Prize only open to students from the painting department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp?
Marianne Van Vyve studied painting at the Antwerp Academy and was the recipient of two prizes herself back in 1964: the Van Lerius Prize and the Nottebohm Prize. Hence the idea of creating a new painting prize in her name, at the school where she trained.
6. Who has won past editions?
Moataz Alqaissy (Baghdad, IQ, 1986) was the very first laureate of the Marianne Van Vyve Prize back in 2021; Meri Toivanen (Kajaani, FI, 1996) and Feline van der Kamp (Apeldoorn, NL, 1996) were the ex-aequo laureates in 2022; Jan Tromp (Venlo; NL, 1995) and Liisa Pöysti (Brussels, 2000) both won in 2023; in 2024 it was Jilmen Talboom (Herentals, 2000) and Naomi Serov (Vienna, AT, 1999); in 2025, the laureates were Diede Mondelaers (Lier, 2003) and Karsten Krogh-Hansen (Oslo, N, 1997).