The Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists Exhibition 2024

The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) announces the 30 artists shortlisted for The 2024 Sovereign Asian Art Prize. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Asia’s most coveted award in contemporary art. As well as providing artists with international recognition and generous financial prizes, The Prize is an important charitable endeavour, raising substantial funds to support disadvantaged children by auctioning finalists’ artworks.

The finalist artworks were shortlisted from 362 entries by 171 artists, nominated into The Prize by 55 independent professionals. The finalists themselves hail from 15 countries and regions across Asia-Pacific, with Hong Kong being the most strongly represented with 9 artists shortlisted. Nearly two-thirds of the shortlisted artists are women, a first for the Prize. The full list of finalists can be viewed overleaf or by clicking here. Notable Prize alumni include Etsu Egami, Rashid Rana, Lindy Lee, Yang Yongliang, Adrian Wong, Chow Chun Fai, Qi Zhilong, Stephen Wong, Alvin Ong, Rithika Merchant, and Alex Seton.

A judging panel will select two finalists, to be awarded the US$30,000 Grand Prize and the US$5,000 Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize, respectively. A US$1,000 Public Vote Prize will be awarded to the artist whose work attracts the most votes from the public. The judging panel for this milestone year comprises writer, curator, and museum director, David Elliott (Chair Judge); Executive Director and Curator at Para Site in Hong Kong, Billy Tang; artist and former Prize recipient, Debbie Han; independent curator, critic, and policy analyst, Marion Pastor Roces; and artist and winner of The 2023 Prize, Parul Gupta.

The 30 finalists’ artworks will be shown and can be voted on, both in person and online, during a free public exhibition at 9/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong from 8-16 May 2024. Younger visitors can explore the exhibition’s key themes with a special self-guided activity, developed by SAF’s experienced art therapists and programme facilitators to promote family bonding and self-discovery through art.

Selected artworks will be sold at the exhibition at a fixed price on a first-come-first-served basis. The remaining works, except the Grand Prize winner, will be auctioned at a Gala Dinner at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong on 17 May 2024, with proceeds split evenly between the artists and SAF’s charity programmes. Pre-bidding will be offered through SAF’s website from 7 May 2024.