Each year, the award will honor a standout project produced within the past 18 months that has provoked dialogue at the crossroads of technology, social issues, identity, and artistic expression. Open to artists, designers, and interdisciplinary practitioners, the prize focuses on work that extends beyond traditional art contexts to shape conversations in fashion, media, commerce, and pop culture.
A bold reveal at Kunstmuseum Basel marks a new commitment
The award was announced during the first-ever Art Basel Awards Medalist Reception at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Switzerland, a special gathering celebrating the 36 inaugural Art Basel Awards Medalists announced in May. It was a milestone moment that deepened the partnership between BOSS and Art Basel and reinforced both brands' shared dedication to cultural innovation.
Open to living artists working in any medium including Art Basel Awards Medalists, the BOSS AWARD will be decided by a special jury, jointly appointed by BOSS and Art Basel. The panel will include influential figures from the art world and beyond, such as Marco Falcioni, Senior Vice President of Creative Direction at HUGO BOSS.
A dual-purpose prize: recognition and real-world impact
The BOSS AWARD for Outstanding Achievement comes with a US$100,000 prize, split evenly between two meaningful purposes. One half will be awarded directly to the winning artist, while the other will be allocated to a community or cause of the artist’s choosing developed in collaboration with BOSS into a cultural initiative, commission, or social project. This structure underscores the brand’s belief in creativity as a force for wider social resonance.
Marco Falcioni, speaking on behalf of HUGO BOSS, explains:
“With this new award and our collaboration with Art Basel, we are taking a more active role in shaping cultural conversations. It’s a chance to align our brand with bold, thoughtful, and original voices that reflect the values of innovation and authenticity. The recipient of this award won’t just be a creative force, they’ll be a ‘BOSS’ in every sense of the word.”
Art Basel Awards: a new platform for recognizing visionary talent
Launched in 2025, the Art Basel Awards are the first global honors program dedicated to celebrating excellence across the contemporary art world. The initiative recognizes achievement across nine categories including artists, curators, institutions, patrons, media innovators, and behind-the-scenes contributors who are reshaping the creative industries.
The program supports long-term careers and groundbreaking contributions, rewarding practices that are redefining what art can be. Later this year, the 36 Medalists will vote among themselves to select 12 Gold Medalists, representing the highest honor of the Art Basel Awards. The BOSS AWARD will be presented alongside the Gold Medals during the Official Night of the Art Basel Awards in Miami Beach, Florida, in December 2025.
Driving cultural relevance through strategic partnership
With more than three decades of experience supporting the arts, HUGO BOSS is deepening its cultural engagement through this new role as presenting partner of the Art Basel Awards. This collaboration is part of a broader ambition: to support artists, institutions, and cultural initiatives that shape the way we understand the world and to align the BOSS brand with creative practices that are progressive, socially engaged, and globally relevant.
Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs, and Chair of the Art Basel Awards, commented:
“The BOSS AWARD for Outstanding Achievement adds a powerful new dimension to our honors program. It shines a light on work that breaks through into the mainstream, provoking important dialogue and expanding the role of art in contemporary life. Together, we’re championing the voices that are changing culture now, often in real time.”
Where art, fashion, and talent development converge
As a presenting partner of the Art Basel Awards, BOSS is aligning with the creative forces that are shaping tomorrow’s culture offering professionals across design, fashion, and the arts a unique opportunity to grow within a dynamic ecosystem. From curators to creative producers, strategists to community leaders, this partnership creates a pathway for talent to engage with the future of art and luxury.
By supporting innovative and socially conscious creators, BOSS is not only reinforcing its brand mission but also helping to forge new connections between the worlds of fashion, contemporary art, and global cultural leadership. It’s an open invitation for visionary professionals to join a movement that celebrates impact, excellence, and originality at every level.
About BOSS and HUGO BOSS:
BOSS is designed for confident, independent individuals who live life authentically, with passion, style, and intention. Its collections feature vibrant, contemporary designs for those who fully embrace their identity and express themselves unapologetically as their own BOSS. The brand’s offering includes signature tailoring, performance suits, casualwear, denim, athleisure, and accessories, all crafted to meet the refined tastes of discerning customers. Complementing the apparel are licensed lines such as fragrances, eyewear, watches, and children’s wear. BOSS operates approximately 500 exclusive stores worldwide and serves as the flagship label within the HUGO BOSS Group, a leading player in the premium segment of the global fashion industry. The group distributes its collections across 129 countries through over 8,000 retail locations, and via e-commerce in 74 countries on hugoboss.com. Headquartered in Metzingen, Germany, HUGO BOSS employs over 18,500 people globally and reported sales of EUR 4.3 billion for the fiscal year 2024.
About Art Basel Awards:
Established by Art Basel in 2025, the Art Basel Awards represent the world’s first international honors program dedicated to celebrating excellence across the contemporary art sector. Each year, an esteemed international jury selects Medalists individuals and organizations whose work and contributions are actively shaping the future of art. Candidates are evaluated based on four core criteria: visionary innovation, technical mastery, meaningful engagement, and broad cultural impact. The program provides recipients with immediate financial support through honorariums, alongside opportunities for global networking, philanthropic collaborations, tailored partnerships, and prominent commissions to advance their work to new audiences. Art Basel actively promotes Medalists worldwide via year-round campaigns and initiatives, including the Art Basel Awards Summit, an annual leadership conference for key influencers in the global art and adjacent creative industries, held in Basel, Switzerland. The Art Basel Awards are proudly presented in partnership with BOSS. For more details, visit artbaselawards.com.
Article source : https://group.hugoboss.com/en/newsroom/news/news-detail/boss-introduces-outstanding-achievement-award-during-art-basel-2025
