The Loewe Foundation proves once again that artistic craftsmanship is not only a tribute to tradition, but also a space for innovation. Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2025 attracted 30 finalists from 18 countries, who presented unique works made from such unusual materials as bandages, sawdust, fallen leaves and earth. This year’s edition of the competition emphasizes even more the power of handicraft and its role in contemporary design.
Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2025: A Cross-section of the Finalists
Since 2016, the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize has provided a platform for artists who reinterpret traditional techniques in a modern context. As Anatxu Zabalbeascoa, Spanish art historian and secretary of the expert panel, emphasizes, the competition promotes “extraordinary craft ”. So, one that combines both classic methods and modern technologies. Artists use hand tools, and at the same time they also experiment with materials and form, creating works with a unique character.
Among the works qualified for the final there are objects made of ceramics, wood, glass, paper, metal or varnish. An example is a sculpture Aoki’s Kunimasa, who used thinly rolled clay covered with soil and glue, or the work Kobiny Adusah – sarcophagus wrapped in bandages.
The art of jewellery also found its place among the finalists. Fumiki Taguchi presented rhodium-plated silver brooches that resemble clusters of small gemstones. In turn, Caroline Broadhead created a transformable necklace made of precisely strung glass beads.
Traditional craftsmanship in a modern version
The winner of the competition will be selected by a 12-person jury, which includes leading figures from the world of design and art. Among them: the creative director LoeweJonathan Anderson, architects Minsuk Cho and Patricia Urquiola, and also ceramics Magdalene Odundo and curator of the Metropolitan Museum, Abraham Thomas The winning work will be exhibited at Madrid’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum from May 30 to June 29. In addition, the author of the winning project will receive a prize of 50,000 euros.
The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2025 undoubtedly highlights the importance of craftsmanship in contemporary culture. However, it also refers to the roots and brand history Loewe, which was founded in 1846 as a collective of leather craftsmen. Today, Loewe combines exclusive design with respect for craftsmanship, and the foundation plays a key role in promoting talent from around the world.