Art Basel and Boss Shift the Awards Conversation

Noah Horowitz, Vincenzo De Bellis, Marco Falcioni and Russell Tovey

At this year’s Art Basel in Switzerland, BOSS and Art Basel introduced the BOSS Award designed not only to recognize creative achievement but to extend its impact beyond the art world.

The BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement isn’t interested in trophies as it’s structured as a double gesture: $50,000 to support a cause selected by the recipient, and another $50,000 to fund a future cultural project developed in collaboration with BOSS.

The inaugural edition was revealed at the Kunstmuseum Basel, setting the tone for a different kind of partnership — one that aligns visibility with responsibility. Rather than celebrating legacy or longevity, the prize focuses on immediacy: a work created within the past 18 months, chosen for its ability to spark conversation across art, design, and technology.

The first recipient will be announced at Art Basel Miami Beach this December.