Shirana Shahbazi Wins 2025 Société des Arts de Genève Prize with Solo Exhibition Planned

Shirana Shahbazi, an Iranian-born artist living in Zurich, has received The Société des Arts de Genève Prize 2025. The award, established in 2009 and given biennially, recognizes Swiss or Switzerland-based contemporary artists at a career turning point, offering 50,000 CHF (approximately USD 60,000) to boost financial support and international visibility. Shahbazi's selection highlights her distinctive photographic practice, which merges photography, painting, and installation to probe themes of identity, memory, and representation. Her work, known for blending landscapes and portraits to challenge perceptions of reality, is held in global collections such as the Pompidou Centre in Paris, MoMA in New York, the Kunsthaus in Zurich, and Tate Modern in London. Previous accolades include the 2019 Meret Oppenheim Prize for visual arts in Switzerland and the 2022 Mutina Art Prize in Modena. As part of the prize, Shahbazi will mount a solo exhibition at the Palais de l’Athénée's Crosnier Gallery in September 2025, accompanied by a publication. The prize aims to foster artistic diversity across borders, reflecting Shahbazi's expansive, multimedia approach.