The Aesthetica Art Prize was launched in 2007, five years after the launch of Aesthetica Magazine, as a way to support the next generation of talent across new visual media. It welcomed both established and emerging practitioners to submit pieces on any theme, celebrating innovative works from a range of media. These works were published in the Creative Works Annual.

In 2013, the prize evolved into an exhibition as well as a publication, presenting longlisted and shortlisted works from March to August in York, UK. Both Main and Emerging prize winners have since been awarded at the Private View, given £5000 and £1000 respectively, amongst other accolades. The exhibition moved to York Art Gallery in 2017, and has since exhibited works from today’s leading practitioners including Magnum photographers, Turner Prize-nominees, RSA Film directors, World Press Photo winners and Prix Pictet nominees.

The prize attracts thousands of entries each year from across the globe, from countries including Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, the UK and the USA. The judging panel has included representatives from BALTIC, Frieze, V&A, and FACT Liverpool.

The Art Prize is open to works in any genre, and on any theme, however, we are particularly interested in works that reflect upon our ever changing world.

Previous exhibitions have posed larger questions about what it means to exist in a digitised, post-industrial landscape, as well as the effects of over-consumption, media stimulation, globalisation, and the climate crisis. We are looking for pieces that challenge us – that redefine the parameters of contemporary art and compel audiences to connect with one another. Winning pieces have reflected upon both social and political structures, questioning the value that we place on the planet and each other. They have pushed the boundaries of form and technique, providing a new set of possibilities and ideas.

To find out more about the types of work that have been shortlisted and longlisted, view our Artists’ Profiles here.