A Night of Triumph at the British Library Piggot Theatre
The British Library Piggot Theatre provided a magnificent backdrop for the eighth annual Women in Art Prize ceremony last month, and the atmosphere was electric. What began as a platform for emerging female artists has evolved into one of the most anticipated dates in the contemporary art calendar – a gathering that draws collectors, curators and art enthusiasts eager to discover the next generation of talent.
This year’s prize spanned painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and beyond, with judges faced with an extraordinarily strong field. The evening itself captured everything the prize stands for: bold artistic vision, mutual support among women creatives, and a commitment to reshaping who gets seen and celebrated in the art world.
The Winners
Bianca Raffaella emerged as the evening’s star, claiming both the Overall Winner – Art Academy Exhibition Prize and the Printing Prize (supported by Printed Editions) for her series Just out of reach – Close; Closer; Closest. Her work, which examines intimacy, proximity and shifting perspectives, set the tone for a ceremony that celebrated complexity, emotional depth and fresh ways of looking.
The Paula Rego Painting Prize was awarded to Judy Clarkson for Kneeling Woman – a work the judges praised for its quiet intensity and enduring presence. Meanwhile, photographer Rona Bar took home the Eve Arnold Photography Prize for Lois and her mother Carey, before Shabbat dinner, a moving portrait of family bonds, ritual and intergenerational connection.
Sally Baldwin won the Sculpture Prize with Lost Souls, and Emi Avora received the Overseas Artist Prize (supported by the Tryson Collection) for To See Everything at Once – both works demonstrating how powerfully material and perspective can be pushed into new territory.
