BBA Gallery Launches Its 2021 Artist Prize Open Call

Feb. 19, 2021

BBA Gallery has announced an open call for its artist prize in 2021. For the fifth consecutive year, the gallery is scouting for emerging artists and hidden talents, offering them a stage to showcase their work. The unique thing about the BBA Artist Prize is that it welcomes applications from anyone, in any discipline, over the age of 18. The artist prize encourages people from all career paths, stages and educational backgrounds to apply.

A painting and a sculpture side by side that mimic each other's colour palette.

BBA Artist Prize 2021 // Courtesy of the Artist and BBA Gallery

The BBA Gallery launched in 2017 with the intention of elevating emerging and mid-career artists, although they do not subscribe to those industry terms. They seek out artists with unique and compelling talent and ideas, without regard to the stage of their career, educational background, or medium. It began as an artist-run project space in 2015 and, since then, has kept the ethos of nurturing talent at its centre. Previous prize winners include Ming Lu, who works in installation, photography and performance, among other things, and painter Tanmaya Bingham.

A sculpture of the dead body of a chicken made from black and white delicate material.

BBA Artist Prize 2021 // Courtesy of the Artist and BBA Gallery

A jury of industry professionals will determine the artists selected for the prize. Thirty people will be selected for the long-list, and 10-15 people for the shortlist. Those selected for the shortlist will be invited to exhibit at the group exhibition at Kühlhaus Berlin during Gallery Weekend Berlin 2021, as well as receiving promotion via the gallery’s Artsy profile, website and various social media channels. Gallery Weekend Berlin 2021 runs from April 30th to May 2nd, 2021 and is one of the leading contemporary art events in Germany. The panel is looking for an artist who has potential, immense creativity paired with professionalism, and who has convincingly executed a concept or work. Second and third place will receive €500 and €300 respectively, as well as an Artsy profile and an online solo show. The overall winner of the prize will receive a solo show and a cash prize of €1000.

The side view of a plinth on which there is a blue and white sculpture of an undefined nature.

BBA Artist Prize 2021 // Courtesy of the Artist and BBA Gallery

BBA Gallery shares a number of applications on their Instagram and Facebook every day, so applying early is beneficial. The top weekly applications are put on the website and shown in the ‘Rota Room.’ The deadline for the application is March 15th, 2021 and there is an application fee of €39. You must submit your personal details, artist statement, CV and exhibitions list, and artwork information, along with five artworks.