Loewe Craft Prize 2025 Crowns the Most Extreme Sculpture of the Competition

Loewe Craft Prize 2025 rewards imperfection with the selection of Kunimasa Aoki as the winner of its latest edition. The Japanese artist has presented a terracotta sculpture made from thin coils of molded, curved clay. The work is on display along with 29 pieces by the other finalists at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid until June 29.

The piece, titled Realm of Living Things 19, has reinterpreted the traditional technique of ceramic coiling, which stands out for its tension between fragility and solidity. The anamorphic sculpture was modeled with curves and then compressed into paper-thin layers. After an extreme firing, Aoki decorated the work with pencil and covered it with earth and glue.

In addition, the jury also awarded two special mentions. The first went to Sumakshi Singh with her work Monument. The Indian artist embroidered a 12th century column from the Qutab Minar complex with copper zari on a soluble fabric to reproduce it in negative. By dissolving the textile base, she created a floating structure that evokes ruins, memory and lightness.

The Loewe Craft Prize has awarded Japan's Kunimasa Aoki 50,000 euros.

The second mention went to Nifemi Marcus-Bello, a Nigerian designer who made a sculptural bench with recycled aluminum from the automotive sector. The work entitled TM Bench With Bowl combines contemporary forms with traditional codes of African furniture, appealing to themes of sustainability, heritage and power.

The finalist works come from 18 countries and have been made using techniques ranging from ceramics and embroidery to bamboo work or the recycling of industrial materials. Highlights include pieces such as the bamboo sculptures woven by Japan's Akari Aso, the floral ceramics of Matt Wedel or the work of Bahamian Anina Major, who reinterprets traditional African braiding in clay to pay homage to the invisible histories of the diaspora.

The jury was composed of key figures from the international scene, including Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson, architect and industrial designer Patricia Urquiola, Loewe Foundation president Sheila Loewe and Wang Shu, Architect and Pritzker Prize winner. Since 2016, Loewe Craft Prize is consolidated as a platform that recognizes not only technical excellence, but also the conceptual potential of contemporary craftsmanship.