Japanese artist Kunimasa Aoki (b. 1963) has been awarded the 2025 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize, receiving €50,000 for his work Realm of Living Things 19 (2024). Chosen from 30 finalists by a distinguished international jury, Aoki’s anamorphic terracotta sculpture explores the natural distortion of clay under pressure, combining innovative construction with traditional techniques.

‘As we celebrate the eighth edition of the prize, I’m struck by the incredible breadth of ingenuity, beauty and skill in the works on show. Each year, the magic of the prize for me is seeing craft’s continued capacity to surprise, innovate and evolve. I am immensely proud of the prize’s role in keeping craft alive.’ Sheila Loewe, President of the LOEWE FOUNDATION.

The jury praised the piece for its raw expression of the coiling method, its layered textures that evoke ‘little universes,’ and the inherent risk in its firing process—a reflection of the artist’s deep commitment.

This year’s finalists showcase how ancestral craft techniques are being reinterpreted with new materials and forms, blending oral traditions with contemporary experimentation.

All 30 shortlisted works are on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid from 30 May to 29 June 2025, with the exhibition also viewable online.