The third presentation of the MAZE/Art Awards F.P.Journe took place on 12 March 2026 during TEFAF Maastricht, one of the world’s most important art fairs. The prize was awarded to Jeanne Selmersheim-Desgrange for Untitled (Fleurs d’automne), presented by the Pavec gallery. This distinction was accompanied by the acquisition of the work by F.P.Journe, after which it will be proposed to the Kunstmuseum Basel.
The MAZE/Art Awards F.P.Journe is built around a curatorial approach designed to evolve over time. The theme selected is always shaped by the context of the fair in which it is presented, making it possible to explore, from one event to another, different periods in art history and the way we perceive them today. In this case, the intention was to highlight a historical artist whose work has been brought back into focus by a modern or contemporary art gallery.
This choice echoed the very identity of TEFAF Maastricht, which is renowned for bringing together works spanning several centuries and placing creations from different periods and contexts in dialogue. By drawing attention to artistic trajectories that have at times remained outside dominant narratives, the prize also underscores the role played by galleries in reassessing certain artistic paths and reintroducing them into the contemporary scene.
The prize was first awarded in November 2025 in Paris, during MIRA Art Fair, where artist Victor Fidelis (Verve Gallery, São Paulo) was distinguished for No limit do privado. It was then awarded on 19 February 2026 at Art Gstaad to Sonia Gomes (Mendes Wood DM) for Untitled. The acquired works were then offered respectively to the Centre Pompidou and the Kunstmuseum Basel.
For this third edition, the jury consisted of Gabriel Dette, curator of art before 1800 at Kunstmuseum Basel, Lydia Berkens, curator and scientific expert in modern and contemporary art at the Conservation Institute Maastricht, and Annabelle Ténèze, director of Louvre-Lens museum.
With this second work proposed to Kunstmuseum Basel, the prize continues to pursue its aim of contributing to the enrichment of public collections and to the institutional recognition of the artists it brings to light.
