The Maria Lassnig Foundation and the Serpentine Galleries announced today, 29 October, that the 2021 Prize has been awarded to UK-based Ghanaian artist Atta Kwami, known for his paintings, murals and kiosk-sculptures that are conceived as expanded three-dimensional paintings, incorporating his signature use of colour and abstract painting style. The artist will receive a major grant and a project with Serpentine Galleries, the institutional partner for the 2021 Maria Lassnig Prize.

Awarded biennially to a mid-career artist in association with an international institutional partner, Atta Kwami is the third artist to be granted the Maria Lassnig Prize, following Cathy Wilkes, in partnership with MoMA PS1, New York (2017), and Sheela Gowda, in partnership with Lenbachhaus, Munich (2019).

Atta Kwami’s project with Serpentine – a comprehensive monograph publication and a public art commission – will be launched in 2022.