Apply
Gallery
The African
Women
in Art Award
Women
in Art Award
before
01/11
01/11
Nominations
The African Women in Art Award is a visual art competition for women designed to showcase the immense talent of women visual artists from the Sub-Saharan Africa.
Drawing
Painting
Digital Art
Mixed Visual Art
Sculpture
Classic works created with pencil, charcoal, ink, or similar materials.
Works created with oil, watercolor, acrylic, or other traditional painting techniques.
Works created using digital technologies such as graphic tablets, drawing software, etc.
Works combining various techniques and materials, such as collages, installations, and other multimedia pieces.
An artistic form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art objects.
Each nomination will be judged separately, and winners will be determined in each category. We define established artists as individuals whose work is represented in museums and galleries, who have participated in regional, national or international exhibitions and who have been recognized in the media.
The theme for AWAA 2025 - «Initiation»
Initiation is a significant part of transition into adulthood, marked by rituals and the teaching of essential life principles. Elders share sacred knowledge with the younger generation, guiding them as they step into their new social roles. This process often involves physical or symbolic trials, such as rites of passage and tests of endurance. During this time the initiate may experience a symbolic death and rebirth that, in some African societies, is marked by physical alterations.
We invite female artists to explore the theme of initiation and express their perspectives on this part of culture through art. This is an opportunity to reflect on traditions, examine their relevance in the modern world, and reinterpret both personal and collective experiences. Coming-of-age rites can be a source of strength, identity and transformation, but they can also embody pain and violence. Through various artistic mediums, it is possible to convey the complexity and depth of these rites of passage. We encourage a dialogue that bridges the past and present, the personal and the communal.
We invite female artists to explore the theme of initiation and express their perspectives on this part of culture through art. This is an opportunity to reflect on traditions, examine their relevance in the modern world, and reinterpret both personal and collective experiences. Coming-of-age rites can be a source of strength, identity and transformation, but they can also embody pain and violence. Through various artistic mediums, it is possible to convey the complexity and depth of these rites of passage. We encourage a dialogue that bridges the past and present, the personal and the communal.
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure fairness and inclusivity, the following eligibility criteria will be applied:
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ResidencyParticipants must be legal residents of Sub-Saharan Africa. -
OriginalityOur managers are always ready to answer your questions. You can call us at the weekends and at night. -
AgeArtists must be 18 years or older at the time of submission. -
Theme InitiationThis is an opportunity to reflect on traditions, examine their relevance in the modern world, and reinterpret both personal and collective experiences. -
MediumsSubmissions must be at least three pieces of the designated mediums: drawing, painting, digital or mixed visual art. Artists can submit their works into all four categories (minimum three pieces per category). -
Artist skillsThe criterion of the artist's skill within the framework of this competition is the degree of the viewer's emotional response to the work of art, expressed through the depth of feelings, the strength of experiences, the complexity of associative series, as well as the uniqueness of the artist's style and the ability to express his idea brightly and unconventionally.
Show the Short list of artists