Tomaso De Luca Wins MAXXI Bvlgari Prize, Marina Abramović Receives Princess of Asturias Award

Tomaso De Luca has received the MAXXI Bvlgari Prize, now in its second edition, which supports emerging artists. The Italian artist was selected from three finalists that included Giulia Cenci and Renato Leotta. Judges praised De Luca's 'ode to freedom and diversity,' Cenci's 'apocalyptic sculptures,' and Leotta's exploration of 'silence and suspended time,' describing their works as powerful reflections on contemporary issues. De Luca's winning piece, 'A Week's Notice' (2020), is a three-channel video and sound installation featuring miniature houses that fly, collapse, and jam, examining architectural decay and finding beauty in instability. The work was chosen for its mature ethical and political stance, subtle poetics, and ability to narrate forgotten histories central to contemporary values like emancipation and gender politics. Typically, the prize involves acquiring only the winner's artwork, but MAXXI in Rome has expanded its support this year by adding works by all three finalists to its collection. Meanwhile, Marina Abramović has been honored with the Princess of Asturias Awards for the Arts, a lifetime achievement award. The Serbian performance artist will receive a Joan Miró sculpture symbolizing the award, along with a diploma, insignia, and €50,000. The awards highlight significant recognition in the art world, with De Luca's prize focusing on young talent and Abramović's celebrating a storied career.