1. Who is Marianne Van Vyve? 

Marianne Van Vyve (1943-1991) was a Belgian painter born in Antwerp. She was one of the few women to be represented by Galerie De Zwarte Panter where she had her first solo show in 1979. More about her work.

2. Why is there a Prize named after her? 

Throughout her life, Marianne Van Vyve was all about breaking down boundaries and connecting with others. Her studios were meeting places, always bustling with friends, fellow artists and those in need of a little tea and sympathy. A Prize (we see it more as a grant) to help young painters in the often challenging first years after graduation seemed like a good way to keep her memory alive and to generate an interest in her work amongst the younger generation.

3. Who is behind the Prize?

The Prize was set up by Marianne Van Vyve’s daughter Delphine Cool and by Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui, a long-time friend. Delphine and Philip have no say in who receives the Prize: they invite a 5-member jury to elect the winning candidate. To make sure the proceedings are completely transparent, everything is overseen by the Marianne Van Vyve Fund which is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation and hands out the cash prize. 

4. How much is the Prize? 

The Prize is 5000 EUR, which the student is free to use at his or her own discretion. We thought about tying the Prize to a specific project but decided in the end to leave things open. This is about giving a young person time to think, to create and to find out who he or she wants to be in life.  

5. Why is the Prize only open to students from the painting department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp? 

Marianne Van Vyve studied painting at the Antwerp Academy and was the recipient of two prizes herself back in 1964: the Van Lerius Prize and the Nottebohm Prize. Hence the idea of creating a new painting prize in her name, at the school where she trained.

6. Who has won past editions?

Moataz Alqaissy (Baghdad, Iraq, 1986) was the very first laureate of the Marianne Van Vyve Prize in 2021. Meri Toivanen (Kajaani, Finland, 1996) and Feline van der Kamp (Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, 1996) were the ex-aequo laureates in 2022.