Last Friday, artists Eniwaye Oluwaseyi, Taqwa Ali, and Lieve Hakkers were presented with the prestigious Royal Award for Modern Painting by King Willem-Alexander at the Royal Palace on the Dam. This accolade, one of the Netherlands’ oldest art prizes, recognizes outstanding young painters under the age of 35. Each recipient was awarded a cash prize of €9,000. The winners’ works, along with those of 12 nominated artists, will be on display at the Royal Palace until March 30, 2025.
The Royal Award for Modern Painting, established in 1871 by King Willem III as the Subsidy for Free Painting, remains a cornerstone of artistic recognition in the Netherlands. Along with the Prix de Rome, it is one of the country’s most significant art awards. The 154th edition of the award continues to highlight the resilience and evolution of painting as a medium. During the ceremony, King Willem-Alexander emphasized the ongoing vibrancy of contemporary painting, stating, “The young artists of today show how painting continues to thrive in 2025.”
Curated by Mirjam Westen, a contemporary art expert at Museum Arnhem, the jury noted the growing internationalization of the Dutch art scene. Many applicants were born outside the Netherlands but have made the country their artistic home. Additionally, the number of female applicants outpaced male applicants, reflecting a long-standing trend in art academies. Another noteworthy development was the presence of self-taught artists, with 113 participants identifying as such.
A Richly Diverse Selection of Artists and Styles
While the jury observed a predominance of figurative and realistic styles among submissions, approximately 10% of the works explored abstraction. The lines between these approaches were often blurred, demonstrating the fluidity of contemporary artistic expression. Furthermore, a greater number of nominees than in previous years have secured gallery representation—five out of the 15, compared to three in the last edition.
Notably, the Royal Award’s timeline has undergone a shift. The previous edition was held just four months ago, but organizers have opted to move the event to the start of the calendar year, allowing for an extended exhibition period and reducing competition with other events at the Royal Palace. Despite the condensed timeline, interest in the award remained high, with 379 applicants in 2025 compared to 483 in 2024.
Spotlight on the Winners
The international character of this year’s winners underscores the Netherlands’ role as a hub for artistic talent. Two of the three winners were born outside the country.
Eniwaye Oluwaseyi (Nigeria, 1994) has lived in the Netherlands for less than a year and is currently a resident artist at the Rijksakademie. His paintings depict friends and family, offering a window into personal and communal experiences. Initially, he sought inspiration from the Nigerian and Ghanaian communities in Amsterdam Southeast but found that photography failed to capture the intimacy he sought. This led him to a new visual approach—creating beautiful yet surreal depictions of Black figures in imagined settings. His works engage viewers in dialogue, encouraging reflections on identity and belonging.
Taqwa Ali (Sudan, 1997) moved to the Netherlands at 16 and graduated from the Maastricht Institute of Arts in 2023. Her work, characterized by quiet, abstract compositions, captivated the jury. Using delicate materials such as sand, clay, and plant-based dyes, Ali explores themes of displacement and translocation. The natural origins of her materials symbolize movement and migration, echoing her own experiences as a Sudanese native. Her titles, such as ‘Blue Nile at Midnight’ and ‘Meena Kosty,’ evoke a sense of longing and cultural memory, providing a deeply personal yet universal narrative.
The third award recipient, Lieve Hakkers, hails from the Netherlands. Her work offers a distinct perspective, contrasting with the other winners in style and thematic focus.
The Future of Painting in the Netherlands
The 2025 Royal Award for Modern Painting underscores the adaptability and continued relevance of painting as a contemporary medium. With artists bringing diverse cultural backgrounds, techniques, and themes to their work, the award reflects both the enduring power of tradition and the innovative directions painting is taking in the 21st century.
The exhibition at the Royal Palace on the Dam provides a unique opportunity for audiences to experience this vibrant selection of contemporary paintings firsthand. It remains open to the public until March 30, 2025, inviting art lovers and critics alike to engage with the works of the winners and nominees.
As the Netherlands continues to foster artistic talent from around the world, the Royal Award serves as a testament to the country’s rich and evolving cultural landscape.
