A Transatlantic Vision: The Founding of the New FLAG Art Foundation Prize

In December 2025, an ambitious new collaboration was unveiled between two of the world’s leading contemporary art institutions: FLAG Art Foundation (New York) and Serpentine Galleries (London). The newly created prize, the Serpentine × FLAG Art Foundation Prize, marks a landmark moment in international art patronage. Over the next decade, it will award a total of £1 million — £200,000 every two years to one outstanding artist — making it the largest contemporary-art prize in the UK to date.

The decision to found this new prize builds on an already robust legacy of artistic support by FLAG. Since its founding in 2008 by art patron Glenn Fuhrman and his wife Amanda, FLAG has operated as a nonprofit exhibition space in Manhattan’s Chelsea district that mounts solo, group, and thematic exhibitions, often spotlighting emerging or underrecognized contemporary artists.

More than just a monetary award, the Serpentine × FLAG Prize embodies a commitment to long-term artistic development and transatlantic exchange. Each laureate will receive not only the substantial cash award, but also a solo exhibition that debuts at one institution and then travels to the partner institution — meaning a first showing in London (or New York), followed by a “reimagined” iteration across the Atlantic. The first recipient will be chosen in 2026, with the inaugural exhibition slated for Autumn 2027 at Serpentine, and a follow-up presentation at FLAG in Spring 2028.

According to statements from the organizations, the prize aims to spot artists “of any generation or age, from anywhere in the world,” provided they’ve been exhibiting professionally for less than ten years — a criterion designed to support mid-career practitioners at a pivotal time in their development. Selection will be made by a rotating jury composed of internationally recognized curators, art historians, and artists.

For FLAG, this new prize represents its “most significant commitment to artists beyond the United States” so far — a conscious effort to expand its global reach and influence. As Glenn Fuhrman put it in a press statement, collaborating with Serpentine gives the foundation an unprecedented opportunity to support a new generation of contemporary artists more broadly, and to help them engage audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

From Serpentine’s side, the Prize continues a long tradition of championing emerging and under-recognized talent. According to Serpentine’s artistic leadership, the prize is designed to give visibility to artists who “have not yet received the visibility or recognition they deserve,” offering a rare combination of financial support, institutional backing, and global exposure.

In many ways, the Serpentine × FLAG Art Foundation Prize feels like a declaration of confidence in the future of contemporary art — a commitment to risk-taking, experimentation, and the support of voices that might otherwise struggle to secure long-term institutional support. By combining serious funding with curated exhibitions across two of the world’s most vibrant art capitals, and by doing so on a regular, scheduled basis over a decade, the prize aims to cultivate not just individual careers but a sustained conversation between artistic communities in New York, London, and beyond.

As the first laureate is selected in 2026 and the inaugural exhibitions approach, the art world will be watching closely. The Serpentine × FLAG Art Foundation Prize may well redefine what it means to support a contemporary artist in the 21st century — offering a model of transatlantic collaboration that blends prestige, freedom, and long-term commitment.