Who Judges the Prize?
Submissions are evaluated by a rotating panel of curators, gallerists, and established artists. The panel is assembled each year to bring fresh perspectives while maintaining a consistent focus on originality, technical skill, and the strange, beautiful imaginations that define the prize.
Curious Duke Gallery — founded by Eleni Duke — has long championed emerging talent in surreal and urban art. The judging process reflects that ethos: work is assessed not just on polish, but on its willingness to push boundaries into new mediums and subjects.
The judging panel for the secret art prize is carefully assembled each year to ensure a diverse range of expertise and artistic sensibility. Curators, gallerists, and established artists come together to review submissions, bringing their distinct perspectives to the evaluation process. This rotating approach keeps the competition fresh and ensures that no single aesthetic or school of thought dominates. The panel looks for work that demonstrates originality, technical proficiency, and a willingness to explore unconventional ideas and mediums. Each judge brings their own background in contemporary and urban art, creating a rich dialogue around every submission and helping to identify truly exceptional emerging talent.
What makes a submission stand out to the judges goes beyond mere technical ability. The panel is drawn to artwork that reveals a curious and adventurous spirit—pieces that seem to come from a place of genuine fascination and imaginative exploration. They value artists who take risks, who push against the boundaries of their chosen medium, and who communicate something authentic and unexpected. The secret art prize has always celebrated the strange, the beautiful, and the thought-provoking. Submissions that linger in the mind, that tell a story or pose a question, are the ones that capture the panel's attention and spark meaningful conversation during deliberation.
The judging process itself is conducted with care and integrity, reflecting the prize's commitment to supporting artists at pivotal moments in their careers. Every application is reviewed with attention to detail, and the panel engages in thoughtful discussion to arrive at their final selections. Beyond the winners and runners-up, the process helps surface remarkable work that might otherwise go unnoticed. For many artists, simply being part of the shortlist opens doors to new audiences, gallery representation, and professional opportunities. The secret art prize aims to be a catalyst—not just a competition—connecting bold, curious artists with the recognition and support they deserve.
What Judges Look For
- Originality — a distinctive voice that stands apart from trends.
- Technical execution — command of the chosen medium, whether drawing, painting, print making, mixed media, or photography.
- Conceptual depth — ideas that reward repeated viewing and provoke thought.
- Fit with the prize's spirit — work that embraces the surreal, the urban, and the unconventional.
Past & Present Panels
Specific judges vary by edition. In past years, the panel has included figures from leading art fairs, independent galleries, and publications dedicated to contemporary art. The 2017 edition, for example, benefited from the involvement of Moniker Art Fair as a lead supporter, bringing additional curatorial insight to the selection process.
For details on the current year's panel, please check the latest announcements or visit the Apply page to learn more about entering.