AKI alumnus Tobias Thaens wins Royal Award for Modern Painting 2024
- Fine Art
- ArtEZ Prizewinner
On October 10th 2024, Tobias Thaens was named one of the three winners of the Royal Award for Modern Painting 2024. His Majesty the King presented the prestigious art award to the AKI alumnus. Tobias was selected from fifteen nominees, including two other alumni from AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design.
About Tobias Thaens
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design in 2021, Tobias was a resident at De Ateliers in Amsterdam from 2022 to 2023. He describes his approach to painting as "aa love letter to a chaotic mode of perception, guided primarily by curiosity and sensitivity."
From the jury report
His work, characterized by the jury as a subtle balance between figuration and abstraction, nature and culture, received high praise. The jury described his piece By the Kiss as a quiet exploration of balance between intuition and composition. According to the jury, Tobias convincingly expresses this sensitivity in both a painterly and poetic manner.
Winners and nominees
The Royal Award for Modern Painting is presented annually by His Majesty the King to talented young artists. Among the fifteen nominees in 2024 were three alumni of the Fine Art bachelor's program at AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design. In addition to Tobias Thaens, Sofiia Dubyna and Thijs Segers were also nominated. The 2024 winners are Tobias Thaens, Faria van Creij-Callender, and Shivangi Kalra. Tobias' work, along with that of the other two winners and nominees, is on display at the Royal Palace Amsterdam until November 10th.
About the Royal Award for Modern Painting
The Royal Award was established in 1871 by King Willem III as the Royal Subsidy for Modern Painting. Since then, it has been awarded by Queen Regent Emma and all subsequent heads of state. The prize aims to encourage young, talented painters and offer them a platform. Visual artists working in the Netherlands under the age of 35 are eligible to compete for the award.