From a pool of 3,900 submissions, 30 artists from 16 distinguished nations and regions were shortlisted for the Loewe Function Craft Prize
An homage to Loewe’s beginnings as a collective workshop in 1846, the annual Craft Prize was inaugurated by the Loewe Foundation in 2016 to celebrate excellence, artistic finesse, and innovation in contemporary craftsmanship. Conceived under the visionary direction of Loewe’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson, this distinguished accolade aims to underscore the profound significance of craft in our modern cultural milieu, while celebrating the talents of artisans whose boundless creativity and unwavering commitment to innovation promise to chart a new course for the future.
In the meticulous process of selecting this year’s finalists, a discerning panel of experts painstakingly reviewed an impressive array of over 3,900 submissions, representing the skilled hands of artisans hailing from 124 countries across the globe. Emerging from this expansive pool of talent are the chosen few, hailing from 16 diverse nations and regions, each masterfully adept in mediums spanning from ceramics and woodwork to textiles, furniture, and beyond. Throughout their deliberations, the panel sought to discern works of unparalleled technical proficiency, visionary ingenuity, and unwavering artistic vision.
The jury, comprising 12 luminaries from the realms of design, architecture, journalism, criticism, and museum curatorship, now holds the responsibility of selecting the recipient of the coveted 2024 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize. Bestowing upon the laureate an award of €50,000, the announcement of this illustrious honour is slated for 14 May this year, coinciding with the grand opening of the exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo. The select works will also go on display at the latter from 15 May to 9 June 2024.
Exhibiting a remarkable fusion of innovation and tradition, many of these pieces breathe new life into found or recycled materials, imbuing the ordinary with a newfound sense of elegance and sophistication. From the unconventional repurposing of rubber tires to the transformation of compressed wood, these works exemplify the extraordinary potential of craftsmanship to transcend traditional boundaries. Guided by an intuitive mastery of technique and a reverence for the serendipitous, several featured works boast organic, biomorphic forms that defy convention, presenting viewers with a visual symphony of unprecedented configurations and distinctive shapes.
