LUGANO, Switzerland, January 9, 2025 — BE OPEN Art, an online art gallery initiative from Elena Baturina’s BE OPEN think tank, has revealed its 2024 Artist of the Year and other updates.

BE OPEN congratulates Imile Wepener, April’s Artist of the Month, who’s been selected as the 2024 Artist of the Year, receiving a €1000 prize.

Imile Wepener is an artist and illustrator from Johannesburg, South Africa. While pursuing his BA Honours in Visual Communication at The Open Window Institute in Pretoria, Imile apprenticed under South African master puppeteer Toby van Eck, adding puppetry to his skills, which include sculpture, animation, and painting. He currently works as a freelance illustrator.

BE OPEN founder Elena Baturina commended the winner: “Imile Wepener’s artwork possesses a touch of magic, a quality that resonated with BE OPEN Art visitors. BE OPEN Art proudly showcases exceptional young talent from around the globe, providing artists with visibility and opportunities to make their mark on the art world and impact the lives of those who appreciate it. We applaud all featured artists and thank everyone who voted throughout the year.”

For the past five years, BE OPEN Art has monthly showcased artists, allowing art enthusiasts to vote for their favorite among 20 exhibited artists. The artist with the most votes throughout the year is named Artist of the Year.

New this year, all monthly winners will also receive smaller monetary awards, made possible by the Community Support Fund, a non-profit initiative the gallery launched in January 2024. This initiative aims to foster financial support and communication between collectors and artists.

The grant recipients are Dora Prévost, Lisa Einkemmer, Brian Connolly, Imile Wepener, Aigerim Asanbekova, Esinulo Chiamaka Praise, S.M.Khayyam, Amy Lewis, Akindele John, Ahsan Memon, Julia Bartolini, and Yibei Liu.

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SOURCE BE OPEN Foundation

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