ARTIST OF THE YEAR 26
JUDGES
All artworks will be thoughtfully judged by our esteemed panel of experts, celebrated for their extensive creative expertise and keen artistic eye.
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The panel includes Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi of Adeche Atelier, Artists and TV & Canon Best Original Content Creators; Jaime Domínguez, Multidisciplinary Artist and AOTY25 Overall Winner; Mollie Balshaw and Rebekah Balshaw, Curators, Artists, Podcasters and Directors of Short Supply; Véra Kempf, Co-founder of Singulart.
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MEET THE JUDGES
Adwoa Botchey & Solomon Adebiyi
Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi are the creative duo behind Adeche Atelier, renowned storytellers and content creators with a special focus on African mythology and culture. They are dedicated to preserving and reimagining African mythology through contemporary art and digital storytelling.
Their work has been commissioned by institutions such as the National Gallery, BBC, the Royal Academy of Arts, and Electronic Arts (EA). Through their paintings, they explore African mythological deities, folklore, and history.
Beyond their visual art, Adwoa and Solomon are content creators, using digital platforms to share stories, spark conversations, and challenge misconceptions about African history and spirituality. Their work continues to educate, inspire, and reframe perceptions of African culture.
Mollie Balshaw & Rebekah Balshaw
Mollie Balshaw (they/them) is a curator, artist, and Director of Short Supply. With a background in visual arts and a decade of experience navigating the contradictions of the UK's arts education and funding systems, Mollie is a passionate advocate for self-determination in creative careers.
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Rebekah Balshaw (she/her) is a curator, artist, Director of Short Supply and a dedicated creative producer with a strong track record in project management, audience engagement, and community-led practice. With a background in visual arts Rebekah has built her career supporting artists and audiences who face systemic barriers to participation in the arts.
"Short Supply was created because we couldn’t find the space we needed – so we built it. From Manchester, we champion early-career artists who are often overlooked: working-class, queer, and those making brilliant work without the safety nets others take for granted. Through exhibitions, awards, mentorship and digital resources, we’re trying to make the art world feel less impossible and more like a place where you can actually belong. We’re stubborn, DIY, values-driven, and committed to proving you don’t need a London postcode to make a difference."
Jaime Domínguez
Jaime Domínguez is a Mexican artist whose colourful geometric paintings weave the overlapping aesthetic traditions of Minimalism and Mexican folk art together with contemporary design trends.
Véra Kempf
Véra Kempf has been an entrepreneur for 11 years, co-founder of Singulart and recipient of Veuve Clicquot's Bold Woman Awardin 2022. She is a French Touch Ambassador promoting creative industries with disruptive approaches. She serves as a board member for three companies, focusing on supporting projects that have a tangible impact on users and positive outcomes for society.
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At 26, she co-founded Singulart in 2017, now the world's leading online art gallery. As operational co-founder for 9 years, she managed product, artist sales, HR, branding, and communications.
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Under her leadership, Singulart grew to 140 employees, raised €80M, and expanded to 80+ countries. She now serves as a non-executive board member.
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Véra specializes in B2C product internationalization, focusing on agile development strategies and leveraging the brand to deliver value.
She champions inclusive entrepreneurship, with 60% women artists on Singulart versus 30% in traditional galleries.
Mackenzie Thorpe
Mackenzie Thorpe is recognised as one of the most successful British artists of the past 35 years, with a career spanning more than three decades. He has established an international presence, exhibiting widely across the UK, America, Japan, and Australia. His artworks are held in numerous private and public collections worldwide, reflecting his strong global following.
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His distinctive style, rooted in emotional authenticity, often explores themes of love, hope, family, and resilience. Drawing inspiration from his industrial heritage as well as deeply personal human connections, he creates art that resonates with viewers on a universal level. Alongside his celebrated paintings and drawings, Thorpe has developed an extensive body of sculptural work, translating his signature motifs from two dimensional to three dimensional form.
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His achievements include being commissioned to create work for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and his pieces are represented within the royal collection. Thorpe continues to create from his studio in Brighton, consistently producing artwork that encapsulates the human condition, celebrating passion, joy, vulnerability, and strength.
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