The winners of the 9th edition of the Biennial VAF Foundation Art Prize have been announced. The jury, composed of Volker W. Feierabend, Cesare Biasini Selvaggi, Daniela Ferrari, and Elena Pontiggia, unanimously decided to award the Foundation’s highest artistic recognition for 2022 to L’orMa.

The prize honored his reinterpretation of sculptural materials with ironic lightness. A student of the Vedovamazzei, the Milanese artist created a series of works inspired by ancient masters—from Leonardo to Bosch—including sculptures and installations made of herbs and natural elements arranged in geometric and symbolic compositions, necklaces with glass spheres containing microscopic sculptures in plastic, and his celebrated paper sculptures.

The artist receives a prize of €15,000, in addition to the acquisition of the competition work by the Foundation, which will become part of its collection.

Congratulations also go to all the artists selected as winners of this 9th edition: Luca Azzurro, Renata and Cristina Cosi, Silvia Inselvini, the KEM collective, L’orMa, Enrico Minguzzi (third place), Sebastiano Raimondo, Dario Tironi, and Valeria Vaccaro (second place).

The exhibition featuring works by the nine finalists is on display at the Stadtgalerie in Kiel from March 11 to May 22 and will subsequently travel to the Castello Estense in Ferrara. The next edition of the competition will be reserved for artists born between 1984 and 2002.