Edwin-Scharff-Preis at Kultur Kontor

Georges Adéagbo

The artist Georges Adéagbo (born in 1942 in Benin/Dahomey) was awarded the City of Hamburg’s Edwin Scharff Prize for his outstanding artistic achievement. With his large-scale installations composed of found objects, text fragments, and personal notes, Adéagbo is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary art. His often site-specific works address identity, migration, colonial history, and cultural transfer by weaving local materials and narrative layers into a multi-layered intercultural dialogue. His projects also reflect on Hamburg’s role as a port city and a hub of cultural encounters, encouraging a critical reflection on urban history and identity. Through his artistic practice, he makes a significant contribution to the decolonization of art and fosters transcultural discourse. As a catalyst for artistic and social debates, Adéagbo strengthens Hamburg’s position as a diverse and open hub for the arts. The Edwin Scharff Prize honors his outstanding artistic commitment and his lasting impact on the city and beyond.

The award ceremony will take place in mid-September at Kultur Kontor.

THE EDWIN SCHARFF PRIZE

The Edwin Scharff Prize has been awarded since 1955 to visual artists living in Hamburg and the surrounding area “whose works deserve recognition in accordance with the standards set by the prize’s namesake” (bylaws) and is endowed with 15,000 euros. The award is decided by a jury of experts appointed by the Senate. The prize’s namesake, Edwin Scharff, is considered one of the most significant sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Neu-Ulm in 1887, he was appointed to the State Art School in Hamburg in the postwar period, where he lived and worked until his death. Past recipients include Hanne Darboven, Franz Erhard Walther, Anna and Bernhard Blume, and Daniel Richter.