On Friday, October 18th, at 18:00, the art world gathered to celebrate the highly anticipated opening of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 Finalist Exhibition at the prestigious Bakerhouse Gallery in Graz, Austria. The event marked a major milestone for the prize, which aims to discover and showcase emerging artistic talent across four categories: Painting, Photography, Mixed Media, and Drawing.
Hosted in one of Europe’s largest galleries, the exhibition runs through the end of November, giving visitors plenty of time to explore the breathtaking works of art created by the 24 finalists selected for the prize. The gallery, with its impressive 1200m² of exhibition space, was a perfect venue for such a grand display of talent and creativity.
A Spectacular Opening Night
The opening night was nothing short of a full success, with around 200 visitors flocking to see the works of the finalists. Guests were treated to a lively atmosphere with music from a DJ, and drinks provided by sponsors Jägermeister and Red Bull. The event was abuzz with excitement, and several artworks were sold within the first few hours of the exhibition—an excellent start for the participating artists.
The exhibition was curated and arranged by Gottfried Eisenberger, CEO of scan.art and curator of World Art Dubai, who was also the organizer of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize. Eisenberger’s expertise was evident in the thoughtful arrangement of the exhibition into five zones: four dedicated to each category of the prize, and one showcasing artists already represented by Bakerhouse Gallery. The meticulous layout allowed visitors to fully immerse themselves in the diversity of artistic styles and mediums on display.
Each finalist had a personalized display sign next to their artwork, detailing their name, category, and country. This thoughtful touch provided context for visitors as they explored the collection. Additionally, thanks to the scan.art digital exhibition guide, attendees could scan each artwork to access more information, creating an interactive and informative experience.
An Evening with Notable Guests
The exhibition’s grand opening was formally inaugurated by Gottfried Eisenberger, CEO of scan.art, alongside Klaus Billinger, CEO of Bakerhouse Gallery. Also present were Dr. Sandra Holasaek, Culture Spokesperson and member of the state parliament, who praised the initiative and the outstanding quality of the first edition of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize. The evening brought together artists, curators, and art enthusiasts in celebration of emerging talent.
Several of the 24 finalists attended the opening night and engaged in conversations with visitors. Among the artists present were:
- Frank Kortan from Germany (Painting)
- Aleksandra Osa from Greece (Painting)
- Mario Javoran from Croatia (Drawing)
- Grada Snijder from the Netherlands (Drawing)
- Eva Samule from Norway (Mixed Media)
- Pichereau Laurent from France (Mixed Media)
- Edi Mandrusić from Slovenia (Mixed Media)
- Wolfgang Gangl from Austria (Photography)
The lively exchanges between the artists and visitors added a personal touch to the event, allowing the public to gain deeper insights into the inspirations behind each artwork.
An Incredible Showcase of Talent
The exhibition also featured a video walkthrough of the entire event by The Art Fair Guy, offering those who couldn’t attend in person a chance to experience the exhibition virtually. The 4K video walkthrough of the gallery can be viewed here: YouTube Video Walkthrough, showcasing all the artworks and the unique atmosphere of the opening night.
The scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 is not only a celebration of contemporary talent but also a showcase of the future of art. Artists from across the globe sent their works to Austria for this exhibition, solidifying the prize’s reputation as an international platform for artistic innovation.
Looking Ahead: Announcing the Winners
In the coming days, the winners of the four categories—Painting, Photography, Mixed Media, and Drawing—will be revealed, along with the Overall Winner and the scan.art Choice Award. As emphasized by Gottfried Eisenberger, the selection process will be based on the physical artworks presented at the exhibition rather than just digital submissions, ensuring that the quality and impact of each piece can be fully appreciated in person.
The finalists have already made their mark, with their works exhibited at Bakerhouse Gallery, but soon we will know which artists will take home the top prizes for the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024.
Partnering for Success
This incredible event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of key partners. We would like to thank World Art Dubai, Discovery Art Fair, Florence Biennale, and Bakerhouse Gallery for their collaboration and contributions to making the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 such a success.
For those interested in learning more about the artists and the exhibition, visit the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 page: www.scan.art/emergingartistprize. Stay tuned for more updates as we announce the winners and continue to celebrate the extraordinary talent on display.
