Amoako Boafo to Mentor Emerging Artists in Maison Perrier’s New Art Prize

Maison Perrier announces a new art prize with real-world support for early-career artists

Maison Perrier has launched the MAISON PERRIER® Art Prize, a year-long mentorship program aimed at helping emerging visual artists move from local shows to larger, international stages. The brand unveiled the initiative in early December 2025, naming Ghanaian painter Amoako Boafo as the prize’s headline mentor for the first edition. The announcement matters because it moves beyond a one-off award. Maison Perrier is positioning this prize as an ongoing platform that connects artists with an experienced practitioner, curators and public-facing opportunities.

For artists who often lose momentum after a strong studio year, this kind of structured support can create lasting change — not just a short-lived publicity burst. The prize says it will back winners with curated shows, funding for projects, and time in residencies, all designed to help artists build the kind of portfolio that attracts collectors, galleries and museum attention.

How the MAISON PERRIER® Art Prize will work: mentorship, awards and practical opportunities

The prize mixes one-on-one mentorship with practical, funded steps that aim to expand an artist’s career. Winners will be paired with Amoako Boafo for direct guidance during the first edition, plus access to a network of guest mentors and curators. The program is presented as a scaffold: mentorship at the center, with a ring of tangible supports around it.

Key elements include exhibition opportunities — winners will show work in at least one public exhibition organized under the prize banner — along with a grant to cover project costs, travel support for residencies, and studio time at select partner spaces. The organizers say the program will also offer professional development workshops, marketing support to prepare artists for public audiences, and introductions to curators and gallery directors in multiple cities.

That combination is significant. Many prizes hand out money or a single exhibition. Maison Perrier is promising a package meant to produce the kind of sustained exposure that changes an artist’s trajectory. For early-career painters, sculptors and multimedia artists, the program aims to remove common barriers: the cost of making new work, the difficulty of arranging meaningful residencies, and the challenge of meeting gatekeepers who can open doors.

Creative flexibility is built into the prize. Organizers say the mentorship will respect each artist’s practice rather than steering winners toward a market-friendly formula. The prize also plans to highlight work across media, not just traditional painting or sculpture, making room for new forms and voices.

Who can apply and the calendar for the first edition

The MAISON PERRIER® Art Prize is open to emerging artists at the early to mid stages of their careers. The program targets candidates who have exhibited locally or regionally but have not yet had major international representation or institutional solo shows. The first edition accepts applications from a global pool; applicants should check eligibility details on Maison Perrier’s official site for full requirements.

Applications for this inaugural cycle open in the weeks following the announcement and will run for a limited window. Shortlisted artists will be invited to interview with the selection panel, which includes the headline mentor and external curators. Winners will be announced after the panel meets, and the mentorship year will begin with an orientation period followed by scheduled residencies and exhibition planning.

Why Maison Perrier is backing emerging talent: brand strategy and wider cultural signals

This prize fits a longer trend of brands acting as cultural patrons. For Maison Perrier, the program ties the brand to contemporary creative work in a way that looks like long-term commitment rather than a seasonal marketing push. Past Perrier cultural efforts have leaned on events and collaborations; the new prize pushes into mentorship and career development.

For the art world, the move signals that corporate partners see value in investing earlier in careers instead of simply sponsoring blockbuster shows. That shift matters because it helps build a healthier pipeline: artists gain experience and exposure, while curators and collectors discover work in more deliberate, supported ways. It also changes the power dynamics a little — a brand becomes a partner in career-making, not just a sign on a gallery door.

Voices from the launch and how to apply

In the announcement, a Maison Perrier spokesperson said: “We want to support artists in ways that matter — time, space and real connections. This prize is built to offer all three.” Amoako Boafo commented: “Mentorship shaped my path. I’m excited to help artists find their own language and audience.”

Press materials list a Maison Perrier press contact and point applicants to the brand’s official website for the application form and full program details. To close, the MAISON PERRIER® Art Prize promises more than a trophy: it offers guided steps for artists ready to move from local visibility to sustained international practice. The first edition will test whether brand-backed mentorship can become a reliable bridge to the wider art world.

Photo: Edward Eyer / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com