The Baloise Art Prize has been awarded to London-based artist Rhea Dillon and Lebanese Canadian artist Joyce Joumaa for their presentations in the Statements section of Art Basel. Dillon, represented by Soft Opening gallery, exhibited *Leaning Figures*, a series of wall-mounted sculptures made from resin mixed with molasses and Jamaican soil, replicating cut-crystal plates. Joumaa, shown with Montreal’s Galerie Eli Kerr, presented *Periodic Sights*, an installation of repurposed fuse boxes illuminated with photographs of everyday scenes from Beirut and Tripoli, addressing Lebanon’s energy crisis. As part of the prize, Dillon’s work was acquired by the Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK) in Frankfurt, and Joumaa’s by Mudam Luxembourg.
The prize matters because it spotlights emerging artists at a pivotal moment in their careers, providing institutional validation and direct museum acquisitions that can significantly boost their visibility and market standing. By selecting works that engage with themes of heritage, materiality, and socio-political critique—such as Dillon’s use of Jamaican soil and Joumaa’s commentary on Lebanon’s infrastructure—the award underscores Art Basel’s role in channeling contemporary art discourse into major public collections. This year’s choices also highlight the growing recognition of diasporic and regionally specific narratives within the global art market.