2025 Henki Art Prize

Free to enter and open to all artists around the world

The Henki Art Prize offers an international platform that recognizes artists while fostering critical engagement with water as a transformative element in contemporary art.

Theme

Camminare – Avanti, camminate sempre

In memory of Pope Francis, who inspired generations with compassion and courage, the 2025 Henki Art Prize invites artists to reflect on the theme Camminare.

In his words to young people:
“Quando un giovane si ferma, è come l’acqua: quando l’acqua cammina va bene, ma quando l’acqua si ferma, finisce male.”
(“When a young person stops, it’s like water: when water flows, it’s good, but when water stops, it goes bad.”)

This simple, profound metaphor speaks to life itself. Movement sustains us – physically, emotionally, spiritually. To walk is to resist stagnation. To evolve. To endure.

This year’s theme invites artists to explore walking not just as a physical act, but as a symbol of resilience, transformation, and forward momentum. How do we move through personal or collective adversity? What pathways do we carve, or inherit, in the pursuit of meaning? How does water, ever-shifting and life-giving, reflect the nature of our journey?

Eligibility

Submitted artwork must be related to the theme Camminare.
The work must explore or respond to the element of water – either through its physical forms (such as oceans, rivers, ice, steam, tears, or rain) or its conceptual, cultural, or symbolic dimensions (such as fluidity, purification, transformation, reflection, or environmental concerns).
All media are accepted, including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital or video-based works.
For video works, submissions must not exceed 5 minutes in length.
Artists from all over the world are welcome to enter.
All entries must be original and solely created by the artist.
A maximum of one original work created within the past two years may be submitted.

Entry Fee

Entry to the Henki Art Prize is free.

How to Apply

To participate, please fill out our entry form (Open from 08/01/2025). By entering, you agree to the Terms below. For any questions, feel free to contact us at info@henkiart.com.

Jurors and Judges

The jury consists of a group of professionals, including but not limited to active artists, curators, and gallery directors. Each juror reviews submissions and returns scores to the staff, who summarize the scores and provide the list to the judges for final determination. Then, five artists are shortlisted as finalists, including the winner.

Award

The winner will receive $500 USD.
Each of the other shortlisted artists will receive $125 USD.
The opportunities to be featured in Henki Art’s 3D online group exhibition.
The opportunities to be featured on Henki Art’s gallery webpage and social media.