Fiona Lutjenhuis in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2025 exhibition will be open to the public at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from 29 November. The nominees are Gallery artist Fiona Lutjenhuis, together with Kevin Osepa, Thierry Oussou and Buhlebezwe Siwani. They have created new works especially for the exhibition. The winner will be chosen on the basis of these new works and the artist's oeuvre.

For the Prix de Rome, Fiona Lutjenhuis has created a cosmic installation centred on the doll’s house from her childhood. Through a series of paintings, she tells the story of a snail called (St)Eve. Although the snail already carries a house on its back, we follow its search for a true home. Lutjenhuis invites the audience on a magical journey into the doll’s house.

Fiona Lutjenhuis has a multidisciplinary practice encompassing installations, paintings, sculptures, and artists’ books. Lutjenhuis grew up in a cult, and learned to see the world differently to her peers. By taking this history as her subject, the artist explores how beliefs and fantasies – from secret societies to extraterrestrial life – can shape our perception of reality.

The jury notes that Fiona Lutjenhuis, through her imaginative and singular oeuvre, achieves a compelling and multifaceted presentation. The artist layers autobiographical events in a kaleidoscopic composition. Her paintings demonstrate impressive artisanry, while the work exudes a sense of freedom and ease.