Meriem Bennani, a Moroccan-born, New York–based multimedia artist, has been awarded the inaugural Boss Award for Outstanding Achievement at Art Basel Miami Beach. The award, presented by Hugo Boss and its Creative Director Marco Falcioni, includes a $50,000 grant. Bennani is known for her fantasy-driven installations and films, such as the 'Life on the CAPS' series and the public sculpture 'Windy' on the High Line. In an interview, she discusses her plans to donate the grant to Bilna’es, an organization founded by Palestinian artists that funds cultural projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
The award is significant because it honors artistic achievement with cultural resonance beyond the commercial art market, offering a rare form of support that allows artists to work deeply without constant market pressure. Bennani’s choice to redirect the funds to Palestinian artists highlights the award’s potential to amplify underrepresented voices and address urgent humanitarian needs through art. The recognition also underscores Hugo Boss’s expanding role in the art world, bridging fashion and contemporary art patronage.