BEAR Fine Art graduate Milou Laroussiyen wins Art Award Arnhem 2026

The winner of the Art Award Arnhem 2026 has been announced! Milou Laroussiyen, a graduate of BEAR Fine Art, has received the Art Award Arnhem 2026. The jury recognised her personal and powerful work, which brings together family histories, migration and cultural identity.

Milou's paintings move between memories of the past and life in the present. She captures moments in a direct and intuitive way. Her paintings sometimes resemble film stills: images captured with quick, confident brushstrokes, without making any corrections afterwards. She draws inspiration from her family history and her family's Moroccan heritage.

The jury's report

The jury was impressed by the openness and expressive power of her work. In its report, the jury describes her work as 'direct, honest and deeply felt'. Although Milou draws on personal memories and family stories, her paintings explore broader themes such as migration, cultural identity and preserving a shared family history.

About the Art Award Arnhem

The jury selected Milou from 33 BEAR Fine Art graduates at ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Arnhem. Alongside Jeongmin Park and Enrico Manzella, she was one of three nominees for the Art Award Arnhem 2026.

The award supports promising BEAR Fine Art graduates as they begin their professional artistic careers. It is an initiative of Vrienden van Museum Arnhem, in collaboration with Museum Arnhem and BEAR Fine Art at ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Arnhem. The award comes with a cash prize of €2,500.

An exhibition featuring work by all three nominees is on display at Museum Arnhem until 9 November 2026.