ROTTERDAM, 28 March 2025 – Artist Pris Roos has been awarded the 2025 NN Art Award. Her colourful installations are currently on view at Kunsthal Rotterdam.
Pris Roos receives 2025 NN Art Award at Kunsthal Rotterdam
Artist Pris Roos has been announced as the recipient of the 2025 NN Art Award. The announcement was made during Art Rotterdam, held at Rotterdam Ahoy from 28 to 30 March. The annual award recognises an artist who was educated in the Netherlands and whose work is featured at the fair. The prize includes a €10,000 grant aimed at supporting the further development of the artist’s practice.
Roos, who was born in Rhenen in 1984, is a visual artist, educator, curator, researcher and storyteller. She draws inspiration from her upbringing in her family's toko—a shop that served as a community hub for people from different backgrounds. The toko experience shaped her interest in themes such as identity, migration, and memory.
The jury's perspective
The jury highlighted Roos’ ability to depict everyday human encounters in a way that resonates broadly. Her colourful visual language and expressive installations were noted for transcending traditional portraiture, allowing the figures she portrays to be seen as heroic in ordinary contexts.
The jury praised not only the content of her work, but also her deliberate choice of materials. According to the jury report, Roos’ installations demonstrate a consistent and distinctive visual language, in which the medium reinforces the narrative.
Other nominated artists
Three other artists were shortlisted for the award:
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Marcos Kueh (Malaysia, 1995), whose woven billboards reflect a blend of traditional and contemporary narratives, influenced by his Malaysian heritage and studies in the Netherlands.
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Bodil Ouédraogo (Amsterdam, 1995), whose work investigates layered representations of identity through tangible connections to ancestry.
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Diana Scherer (Germany, 1971), known for her biotechnological explorations combining botany, textile, and sculpture to examine the relationship between humans and the natural environment.
Works by all four artists are on display at Kunsthal Rotterdam through Sunday, 11 May 2025.
About the award
The NN Art Award is presented annually in collaboration with Art Rotterdam and Kunsthal Rotterdam. Organisers state that authenticity and innovation are key selection criteria. The award is supported by Nationale-Nederlanden, which aims to make contemporary art more accessible while offering a platform to emerging artists.
How to visit
Directions to Kunsthal Rotterdam
Kunsthal Rotterdam is located in the Museumpark area, close to the Erasmus MC and Het Nieuwe Instituut. The venue is easily accessible by public transport, bicycle, or car. Visitors can expect a dynamic and wide-ranging exhibition programme within the iconic Rem Koolhaas-designed building.
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