The Igal Ahouvi Art Collection awards the Most Promising Artist award each year to an independent artist presenting at the Fresh Paint Greenhouse. The recipient of this 40,000 NIS prize is chosen by the award committee based on overall artistic achievements which indicate the greatest potential for an interesting future development.
In addition to the monetary prize the artist is awarded a solo exhibition at the next Fresh Paint fair. The winner is announced on the opening night of the fair.
Natalia Zourabova
Fresh Paint 4's Most Promising Artist award went to Natalia Zourabova, who will have a solo exhibition at Fresh Paint 5, curated by Sarit Shapira.
The award committee stated: "Zourabova's paintings offer panoramic views of both indoor and outdoor scenes in local surroundings with an informed and detailed attention to characters, objects and background elements."
Natalia Zourabova is an MA graduate from UdK Berlin and exhibited in numerous exhibitions in Berlin, Moscow and Tel Aviv.
Members of the 2011 award committee:
Igal Ahouvi, art collector, Chairman of the award committee
Jessica Morgan, Curator, Tate Modern, London
Edna Moshenson, curator, Tel Aviv
Shay Rosen, director, the Igal Ahouvi Art Collection
Sarit Shapira, curator, the Igal Ahouvi Art Collection
Nivi Alroy
Fresh Paint 3's Most Promising Artist award went to Nivi Alroy. Nivi presented a solo exhibition at Fresh Paint 4 curated by Tami Katz-Freiman, former head curator, the Haifa Museum of Art.
The award committee stated: "Alroy's work demonstrates extensive use of a wide range of materials and techniques: drawing, sculpture, architectural structures, as well as video and animation, often by other artists. Alroy combines these into original assemblages and installations."
Nivi Alroy – born in 1978, lives and works in Tel Aviv. B.A. graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Art and M.A. graduate of the School of Visual Arts, New York.
Members of the 2010 award committee:
Igal Ahouvi, art collector, award chairman
Daniela Luxembourg, founder, Daniela Luxembourg Art – London, New York and Geneva
David Neuman, director and founder, Magasin 3, Stockholm
Sarit Shapira, curator, the Igal Ahouvi Collection
Shay Rosen, director, the Igal Ahouvi Collection
The Most Promising Artist Award at Fresh Paint 2 (2009)
Dror Daum
Fresh Paint 2's Most Promising Artist Award went to Dror Daum. Dror presented a solo exhibition, "Paradise Lost", curated by Sarit Shapira, at Fresh Paint 3.
The award committee stated: "We found Daum's work to be precise, varied in terms of technique, sensitive and intriguing. Despite the ordinary subject matter and familiar images, Daum's work has a surprising, hypnotic look."
Dror Daum – born in 1970, BFA and MFA graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Art, teaches at Beit Berl College.
Members of the 2010 award committee:
Igal Ahouvi, art collector, award chairman
Yonah Fischer, curator
Michal Ne'eman, artist
Dr. David Graves, philosopher and artist
Shay Rosen, director, the Igal Ahouvi Collection
The Most Promising Artist Award at Fresh Paint 1 (2008)
Shira Zelwer
Fresh Paint 1's Promising Artist Award went to Shira Zelwer, whose solo exhibition at Fresh Paint 2 - ‘Reserved’ was curated by Ellen Ginton, head curator, Israeli art, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. The award committee stated: "It is rare to find an artist these days who manages to create something new from ordinary objects and to distill such meaningful insight from a banal environment... Shira Zelwer's sculpture brings across a sense of authenticity which comes from her sensitive touch with her material, a touch which creates a personal world of forms, brings across a unique feeling, and reflects an original way of looking at her environment." Shira Zelwer, born in 1978, is a graduate of the Beit Berl College of Art. Members of the 2008 award committee: Igal Ahouvi, art collector, award chairman Tami Katz-Freiman, head curator, Haifa Museum of Art Naomi Givon, Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv Moshe Gershoni, artist Shay Rosen, director, the Igal Ahouvi Collection