HUGO BOSS PRIZE
For 22 years, the HUGO BOSS PRIZE has allowed us to identify and honor artists who leave a lasting mark in contemporary art. We are grateful for the inspiring support from HUGO BOSS in this important commitment.
Excellent art for over twenty years
For more than 20 years, HUGO BOSS in cooperation with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation has been honoring contemporary artists whose work has constituted a significant contribution to the evolution of the contemporary visual arts. The prize was awarded for the first time in 1996. Within two decades that have passed since, the HUGO BOSS PRIZE has become one of the most recognized accolades in contemporary art.
The prize, which carries a stipend of 100,000 US dollars, is awarded every other year. The winners also have the opportunity to showcase their works in a solo exhibit at the renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Remarkable diversity distinguishes the winners of the past years. There are no restrictions regarding nationality, age, sex or the chosen art form. Thus the HUGO BOSS PRIZE succeeds in acquainting the public with a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Current winner
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh was born in Chicago in 1967. Her sculptures, installations, video art and performances center on feminism and African-American history. The jury honored Leigh also for her commitment as a mentor of young female artists and found her focus on black women's experience in the United States to be inspiring due to its radicalism and relevance in times of a changing political and societal climate. Her solo exhibition will be on display at the Guggenheim Museum from April 2019.
Timeline of the earlier prize winners
1996 | Matthew Barney
American artist Matthew Barney enjoys worldwide recognition for his varied work, which includes drawings, photographs, film, sculptures and performance art. His work "The Cremaster Cycle" (1994 – 2002) is generally regarded as one of the most original films in avant-garde cinema.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 1996", Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, November 19, 1996 through February 16, 1997
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 1996", Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, November 19, 1996 through February 16, 1997
1998 | Douglas Gordon
The Scottish artist's installations and videos are preoccupied with the topics of identity, remembrance and perception. He disrupts the traditional format of the video by the simultaneous use of multiple monitors and uses time lapses to reveal hidden details.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 1998", Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, June 24 through September 20, 1998
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 1998", Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, June 24 through September 20, 1998
2000 | Marjetica Potrč
Marjetica Potrč is a Slovenian artist and architect investigating the relationship between society and architecture by means of artistic projects in the respective places. She sheds light on the way we coexist, contemplating topics such as sustainability, privacy, use of water and energy efficiency.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2000: Marjetica Potrč", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 9 through April 29, 2001
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2000: Marjetica Potrč", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 9 through April 29, 2001
2002 | Pierre Huyghe
Pierre Huyghe, born in Paris in 1962, is known for his innovative, large-scale mixed-media works comprising installations and videos, in which he is often exploring the mysteries of the human condition. He is considered one of the most philosophical artists in France.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2002: Pierre Huyghe", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, January 24 through May 4, 2003
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2002: Pierre Huyghe", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, January 24 through May 4, 2003
2004 | Rirkrit Tiravanija
This artist encourages his audience to enter in immediate contact with modern art in interactive installations. Thus, he overcomes the barrier between art and everyday life. In dealing with topics such as community and remembrance, he explores a wide variety of materials.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2004: Rirkrit Tiravanija", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 8 through May 11, 2005
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2004: Rirkrit Tiravanija", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 8 through May 11, 2005
2006 | Tacita Dean
After her college studies, which concentrated on painting, the English artist is now mostly active in the medium of film. Using long, contemplative takes, she directs the gaze onto the poetic details of everyday life.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2006: Tacita Dean", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 23 through June 6, 2007
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2006: Tacita Dean", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 23 through June 6, 2007
2008 | Emily Jacir
The Palestinian artist is a poet, movie auteur and activist at the same time. Her forceful works deal with the history of migration and are also about topics such as resistance and exile.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2008: Emily Jacir", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 6 through April 15, 2009
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2008: Emily Jacir", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, February 6 through April 15, 2009
2010 | Hans-Peter Feldmann
A native of Düsseldorf, Germany, he is considered as setting the standards for German conceptual art. He is committed to the fascination of collecting and documents peculiarities of modern culture by combining curios and stories in an encyclopedic manner.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2010: Hans-Peter Feldmann", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, May 20 through November 2, 2011
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2010: Hans-Peter Feldmann", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, May 20 through November 2, 2011
2012 | Danh Vo
Danh Vo was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Denmark with his family as a child. Personal experience shapes his examination of immigration, identity, homeland and cultural exchange. His provocative installations often use archival material such as documents and photos to make impressive narratives accessible to the viewer.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2012: Danh Vo, I M M U R 2", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 15 through May 27, 2013
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2012: Danh Vo, I M M U R 2", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 15 through May 27, 2013
2014 | Paul Chan
Paul Chan was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Nebraska. In video installations, animations and works of projection art, he confronts his audience with musings on the political climate, violence, pornography and new media.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2014: Paul Chan, Nonprojections for New Lovers", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 6 through May 13, 2015
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2014: Paul Chan, Nonprojections for New Lovers", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, March 6 through May 13, 2015
2016 | Anicka Yi
With her work, the Seoul-born artist investigates the intersection of biology and politics both in the digital and in the physical world. Using concepts and techniques from scientific research, her installations create vivid fictitious scenarios that raise questions concerning the human psyche and the way our society works.
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2016: Anicka Yi, Life is cheap", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, April 21 through July 5, 2017
Exhibition view: "The Hugo Boss Prize 2016: Anicka Yi, Life is cheap", Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, April 21 through July 5, 2017
