Since its very first edition, RAD Art Fair has integrated a prize system as a way to directly support the artistic ecosystem and contribute to the continuity of artists’ practices beyond the four days of the fair. Each year, we invite an expanding network of partners—from private companies and collectors to institutions and public museums —to offer a variety of prizes that extend the visibility and impact of the participating artists.
These prizes take different forms: acquisition prizes awarded by private or public collections, invitations to artist residencies, and opportunities for further exhibition. Among them, the Be RAD Prize is awarded to a young gallery and comes with a guaranteed spot in the following edition of the fair.
More than a gesture of recognition, these prizes are a way to foster long-term engagement with the work of emerging and mid-career artists, encouraging collaboration between galleries, institutions, and artists while nurturing the local scene’s presence within a broader international context.
Prizes
Hotel Caro Prize
We are delighted to announce that the RAD Sculpture Park Award, offered by Hotel Caro, is being granted this year to artist Alexandru Ranga, for his remarkable work, "Matca."
Congratulations, Alexandru, for a creation that captivated the jury through its expressive power and the balance between materiality and concept.
We extend our sincere thanks to our partner, Hotel Caro, for supporting contemporary art and for promoting emerging talents within the RAD Art Fair.
"Matca" came to life as part of the 2023 exhibition "Noiz" at IOMO Gallery in Bucharest. It was created by copying and casting various plant elements found around the artist’s studio, which gives the piece its unique plasticity. The sculpture is alert and defensive in character, with distortions and the interplay between glossy surfaces and the roughness of the metal serving as defining features that cover its entire form. This contrast accentuates both the strength and the nobility of this being.
Marval Collection Prize
Aimed primarily at emerging and mid-career artists, the Marval Acquisition Award consists of an acquisition for the collection that gives its name to the award and a residency offered to the awarded artist.
Marval Collection was born from the passion of two collectors, Marco and Valeria, who in 2018 decided to join forces to establish a collection to support not only young artists, but also fairs and galleries.
Marval strongly believes in the artistic system made up of institutions, galleries, fairs; entities that daily commit to supporting capable and talented artists.
In this perspective, in recent years Marval has been working alongside museums, private institutions and fairs in cities such as Turin, Verona, Barcelona, Madrid, Marseille, with prizes, loans and awards.
Banca Transilvania Prize
Banca Transilvania strengthens its involvement in the 2025 edition of RAD Art Fair by directly supporting the local community of participating artists. This year, the bank is offering an acquisition prize for one of the works exhibited during the four-day fair—a gesture that not only acknowledges artistic excellence but also contributes to the sustainability of contemporary art practices in Romania.
Through this initiative, Banca Transilvania reinforces its ongoing commitment to the cultural field and affirms the role of private support in shaping a vibrant and enduring art ecosystem.
MNAC Prize by Stephan Stoyanov
'I have always been a firm believer that young artists should get encouraged and supported at early stage of their careers as they often get overlooked by the market players both private individuals and above all institutions. We often forget that before reaching a brand name an artist needs to see the world in order to express original ideas.
By giving this award to a young g artist I would like also to work on getting the artist a residence program somewhere around the world. By donating the work to a prestigious institution I express my vote of confidence in the young artist’s future.'
- Stephan Stoyanov
RUS Collection Prize
For a second year in a row, Bucharest-based RUS Collection awards an acquisition prize at RAD’s 3rd Edition. The artwork selected should be a deep and personal reflection of the complex times we are living in today’s world order; much as the turn of cycles have inspired many of the masterworks in art history. In a world where direction and purpose are often difficult to identify, assess and preserve, art can serve as a silent (or sometimes quite loud) advisor.
Museum of Recent Art Prize
Now in its third year, the MARe acquisition Prize continues to support contemporary Romanian artists by acquiring a selected work into the museum’s permanent collection. The prize highlights the museum’s sustained mission: to document the recent past and the unfolding present of Romanian art through direct engagement with its most compelling voices.
As the prize enters its third edition, it becomes not just a yearly tradition but a growing archive of commitment—a carefully built constellation of practices that shape how we understand the now.
Be RAD Prize
The Be RAD Prize is dedicated to encouraging the work of emerging galleries. Awarded annually at RAD Art Fair, it offers one young gallery a guaranteed spot in the following edition—providing continuity, visibility, and crucial support for long-term growth.
By focusing on the galleries themselves, the Be RAD Prize recognizes the essential role they play in shaping artistic trajectories and building sustainable careers. It’s not just a nod of approval, but a tangible investment in the future of the local and regional art scene.
