Nairy Baghramian Wins $100,000 Nasher Prize for Sculptural Innovation

Nairy Baghramian has received the prestigious sixth Nasher Prize, which includes a $100,000 cash award for her innovative sculptural work. Hailing from Iran but now residing in Berlin, her creations vary from furniture-like designs to soft, rounded wall pieces. Judge Phyllida Barlow praised her ability to transform traditional sculpture into personal explorations that blend architectural and human characteristics. Among her significant works are the 2012 installation Retainer, which features curved barriers for viewers, and the 2020 outdoor piece Knee and Elbow, constructed from pink and white marble arches linked by stainless steel. In 2016, she declined a nomination for the Vincent Van Gogh Biennial Award due to a legal dispute involving collector Bert Kreuk and artist Danh Vō.