Samia Halaby has been announced as the winner of the MUNCH AWARD 2025. The award celebrates artists who defend freedom of expression in the face of growing social and political pressure around the world.
Jerusalem-born and New York-based, the artist is known for her artistic practice, as well as her activism for social justice and Palestinian issues. Halaby’s career spans over 60 years, during which she has explored abstraction, Islamic geometric patterns and digital art. Her work bridges paiting, tehcnology and education, creating a dialogue between these fields. Since the 1970s, she has been a vocal advocate on critical issues such as race, class, gender and censorship in the arts, using her platform to challenge social injustices.
Initiated in 2024, the MUNCH Award honours artists who show courage and integrity in their work, reflecting the legacy of Edvard Munch, who supported artistic freedom. The selection for the award was chosen by a jury consisting of visual artists, critics, curators, institutional figures and scholars including, Wanda Nanibush, Dr Yvette Mutumba, Cosmin Costinas and director of MUNCH Tone Hansen and Tominga O’Donnell, MUNCH’s Senior Curator of Contemporary Art.
The award ceremony will take place in Paris on 22 October during Art Basel, and again in Oslo on 24 October at the MUNCH museum.
