Women in Art Fair Names 2025 Prize Jury

The Women in Art Fair (WIAF) has lined up a heavyweight jury for its 2025 Prize, aimed at female-identifying artists. Alison Mosshart, Charlotte Jansen, Vanessa Raw, and Virginia Damtsa will sift through submissions for the award, which promises a £2,650 prize pool and a showcase at gallery@oxo in London from 19–21 June.

The open call’s out now, offering women artists a crack at breaking through in a fair that’s all about tipping the gender scales. It’s a notable crew for a mission that’s been simmering in the art world for years.

It’s a mission right on theme with this year’s International Women’s Day is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”.

Meet the Judges

The jury spans a broad arc. Alison Mosshart fronts The Kills and The Dead Weather, doubling as a visual artist with exhibitions worldwide. Charlotte Jansen writes for The Guardian and Elephant Magazine, curating Photo London’s Discover section with a focus on overlooked voices. Vanessa Raw paints women’s identity and transformation, her work earning critical notice. Virginia Damtsa, a curator and dealer, boasts 30 years of spotting fresh talent, tied to major global institutions.

**Women in Art Fair founder Jacqueline Harvey © Ben Fitzpatrick**

They’ll pick winners for the WIAF Prize: £1,500 for first, £750 for second, £400 for third. Shortlisted artists land a spot at gallery@oxo, open free to the public from 11:00–18:00 over three days. Applications are rolling at womeninartfair.oess1.uk—deadlines don’t seem to have been set yet, so early birds might get the edge.

A Fair with Purpose

The Women in Art Fair’s out to boost women in an art scene where they’re often stuck on the sidelines. Director Jacqueline Harvey, a Goldsmiths grad with a decade at Mayfair’s Art Strategics, drives the charge. “The world has been through incredible changes in recent years and women, as artists, have continued to create and help maintain stability in these volatile times,” she said. “We need to celebrate the journey we have been on and look at the new paths and opportunities we are going to create for future generations.”

“The world has been through incredible changes in recent years and women, as artists, have continued to create and help maintain stability in these volatile times”

Director – Jacqueline Harvey

The fair’s carving a space for artists, curators, and gallerists to connect and challenge old patterns. Gallery@oxo, perched by the Thames, hosts the June event, aiming to draw crowds to talent too often left in the shadows.

What’s Up for Grabs

The prize isn’t a windfall, but it’s a start. First place nets £1,500—handy for paint or rent—while second and third take £750 and £400. The bigger perk? A wall at OXO Tower Wharf, a cultural spot open to all. Harvey’s fair CV includes Art Basel and London Art Fair, and she’s framing the Women in Art Fair as a push to “redress the gender imbalance.” It’s less glitz, more grit—giving women artists a foothold.

The jury’s got the credentials to back it. Mosshart’s music-art crossover, Jansen’s critical eye, Raw’s focus on identity, Damtsa’s talent-spotting history—each add a layer to the judging. They’re set to comb through entries for standouts, though what counts as “standout” is theirs to call.

Why It’s Buzzing Now

Women trail in art sales and gallery slots—numbers don’t lie. The Women in Art Fair’s not rewriting the rulebook overnight, but it’s a nudge forward. Harvey’s counting on the jury’s pull to shine a light on names that might stay undiscovered. “This is about… opportunities we are going to create for future generations,” she says, eyeing a ripple effect.

Landing mid-June in London’s packed cultural lineup, the fair’s free entry at gallery@oxo invites a wide net—art buffs and passersby alike. It’s not a closed circle; it’s a chance for anyone to see what’s stirring.

“This is about… opportunities we are going to create for future generations”

Looking Ahead

Artists can jump in now—submission details are online. The 19–21 June showcase will roll out the jury’s picks, with daytime hours set for browsing. The Women in Art Fair is building on its judges’ impressive reps to spark interest, aiming to shift the dial for women in art. For now, it’s a call to enter—and I just know there is an abundance of talented women ready to answer.