The Munch Museum in Oslo has announced that Samia Halaby, the New York–based Palestinian artist and pioneer of abstract art, is the recipient of the 2025 Munch Museum Award. The prize, now in its second year, includes NOK 300,000 (USD 30,300) and celebrates artistic freedom of expression. Born in Jerusalem in 1936 and displaced from Palestine at age 11, Halaby has built an illustrious six-decade career that bridges Islamic geometry, Russian avant-garde, and Western modernism. A trailblazer in digital and kinetic art, she began experimenting with computer-generated works as early as 1986. Alongside her artistic practice, Halaby is a respected scholar and activist whose landmark book Liberation Art of Palestine remains a cornerstone in the documentation of Palestinian art. She also made history as the first full-time female associate professor at Yale School of Art, shaping generations of artists. The Munch Museum jury commended her “visionary and enduring artistic practice” as well as her fearless defense of artistic freedom and social justice. The award ceremony will take place on October 22 in Paris during Art Basel, and on October 24 at the Munch Museum in Oslo. This recognition follows Halaby’s distinction as the TAKREEM 2024 Lifetime Achievement Laureate, a testament to her unparalleled contributions to culture, art, and advocacy.

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