ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Junger Westen Prize Winners Shown at Villa Romana

exhibition · 2026-06-16

An exhibition of works by winners of the 'junger westen' art prize is on view at Villa Romana in Florence, Italy. The show is part of Mutual Presence, an exchange project between Villa Romana and Kunsthalle Recklinghausen in Germany, the institutions behind the two oldest German art prizes. The exhibition references the Blue Grotto on Capri, a sea-filled cave rediscovered in 1826 that inspired 19th-century German artists. Early depictions, such as Heinrich Jakob Fried's 1835 work, capture the fascination with light, water, and stone.

Key facts

  • Exhibition features works by 'junger westen' art prize winners
  • Part of Mutual Presence exchange project
  • Involves Villa Romana (Florence) and Kunsthalle Recklinghausen (Germany)
  • These institutions administer the two oldest German art prizes
  • Blue Grotto on Capri rediscovered in 1826
  • Heinrich Jakob Fried created a notable work in 1835
  • Blue Grotto inspired 19th-century German artists
  • Cave illuminated by sunlight through underwater opening

Entities

Artists

  • Heinrich Jakob Fried
  • Jeewi Lee
  • Mona Schulzek
  • Jeehye Song

Institutions

  • Villa Romana
  • Kunsthalle Recklinghausen

Locations

  • Florence
  • Italy
  • Recklinghausen
  • Germany
  • Capri
  • Blue Grotto

Sources