Braque Prize 2025
From  April 5th to June 1st

Artists: Paula Castro, Lucas Di Pascuale, Hoco Huoc, Josefina Labourt, Lucrecia Lionti, Valeria Maggi, Lucía Reissig, Santiago O. Rey

Selection and Curation: Alejandra Aguado, Francisco Lemus

In 2012, UNTREF and the Embassy of France in Argentina decided to revive a joint initiative that had been discontinued in the 1990s: the Braque Prize, which had originally begun in 1964 and gradually became a key platform for encouraging the production and internationalization of Argentine artists.

Since the first edition of this second cycle, held in 2013, we have continued the prize with an updated format. It is important to highlight that this prize not only provides a valuable opportunity for the selected artist to undertake a residency in Paris, but also involves a rich selection and development process that culminates in exhibitions at MUNTREF. This process is a vital part of what the prize offers to participating artists and deserves to be emphasized.

Briefly: for each edition of the Braque Prize, two or more curators are invited to propose artists. Through meetings and discussions between curators and representatives of the institutions behind the project, potential candidates are presented, and a selection hypothesis is developed based on a convergence of factors: the artist’s profile and position in the art scene, the diversity of formats, resources, and aesthetic approaches, as well as geographical origins—since this is a federal project—are all taken into account when shaping the final list.

In this edition, curators Francisco Lemus and Alejandra Aguado not only helped define the curatorial selection of artists but also, following each artist's acceptance to participate, closely accompanied the creative processes and curated the exhibition itself.

At the Braque Prize, we believe that these initial stages, which lead to the exhibition at MUNTREF Contemporary Art Center, already fulfill one of the core goals of the award, and in that sense, all participants are acknowledged. Then, a second stage of the prize is carried out by an external jury along with representatives from the organizing institutions, resulting in two honorable mentions and the awarding of a residency scholarship in Paris to one of the participants.

We believe this rigorous process strengthens the quality of the prize by providing meaningful opportunities to all those involved. The sustained development of this project over the years reflects the continuity of a virtuous relationship between our university and the Embassy of France in Argentina—an aspect we believe enhances our mission.

Aníbal Jozami
Rector Emeritus, UNTREF
General Director, MUNTREF

As part of the deep and historic cultural cooperation between France and Argentina, certain events have become essential milestones in the Argentine art calendar. The Braque Prize, with a long-standing tradition dating back to 1963, has honored some of the most important Argentine visual artists, including Delia Cancela and Jorge Macchi.

Since 2013, thanks to the renewed initiative led by UNTREF—an institution that has made significant contributions to promoting contemporary creation in Argentina—and in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Buenos Aires, this prestigious prize has supported the work of outstanding Argentine artists and provided them with international exposure. In 2025, on the occasion of the 6th edition of the renewed Braque Prize, a selection committee made up of curators, organizers, and previous winners chose eight artists.

The exhibition presented at MUNTREF Contemporary Art Center features works by Paula Castro, Lucas Di Pascuale, Hoco Huoc, Lucrecia Lionti, Josefina Labourt, Valeria Maggi, Lucía Reissig, and Santiago O. Rey—all created specifically for the Braque Prize and curated by Alejandra Aguado and Francisco Lemus.

Although only one of these works will receive the award—granted by a French-Argentine jury and offering its author a three-month residency in France along with international travel support—all the pieces in this exhibition undeniably reflect the vision and vitality of today’s and tomorrow’s leading talents.

The French Embassy is proud to take part in this distinguished prize, which promotes Argentine contemporary art while forging a genuine bridge to France. It further strengthens the friendship, admiration, and mutual interest shared by both countries in the field of art. May this 2025 edition “disturb” visitors, just as Georges Braque himself might have wished.

Frédéric Depetris
Cultural Counsellor
Director, Institut Français d’Argentine