A number of the world’s most respected art patrons, collectors and luminaries gathered in London last week to inaugurate the Patina Art Residency.

The judges, convened by Darius Sanai, proprietor of Quartet Consulting, are chaired by Maria Sukkar, Co-Chair of the TATE Middle East North Africa Acquisitions Committee [MENAAC]. They include Christian Levett, founder of the Femmes Artistes Musée Mougins; Marie-Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, founder of Spirit Now London; Sana Rezwan, founder of the Public Arts Trust of India; and Arturo Galansino, Director of the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence.

This new annual art award from Patina Hotels & Resorts celebrates emerging artists whose work reflects a commitment to impact and sustainability. Each year, one artist will be selected to create at one Patina destination, where art and hospitality come together in a meaningful way.

The inaugural edition in 2025 explores the theme Fluid Worlds – examining how boundaries shift and change, whether between cultures, ideas, or elements. Leading galleries will nominate existing works that speak to this theme, from which the judges will choose a winning artist.

The full jury for 2025-26 comprises:

  • Maria Sukkar, Co-Chair of the TATE Middle East North Africa Acquisitions Committee and owner of the iSelf Collection
  • Hubert Bonnet, Brussels-based entrepreneur, philanthropist, and collector and founder of the Fondation CAB in Belgium
  • Countess Marie-Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, founder of philanthropic community Spirit Now London
  • Charlotte Colbert, award-winning filmmaker and multimedia artist
  • Ilaria Ferragamo, collector and designer based in London and Tuscany
  • Arturo Galansino, Director of the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence
  • Christian Levett, Florence-based collector, philanthropist and owner of the FAMM Museum in the South of France and the Christian Levett Collection
  • Alan Lo, collector, entrepreneur and co-founder of the YAL Foundation in Singapore
  • Masha Nosova, next-gen investor and collector, based in London, Monaco and Dubai
  • Sana Rezwan, Founder of the Public Arts Trust of India and the Jodhpur and Jaipur Arts Weeks
  • Sarah Von Boetticher, Germany-based collector (Von Boetticher Collection) and art historian

The winning work will be unveiled at an event in London on 9 October 2025.

The winning artist will be awarded a fully supported residency of up to one month at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands as part of The Patina Art Residency 2025. The resort houses a respected permanent art collection, including the Skyspace Amarta by James Turrell.

"We're creating space for emerging artists to explore their practice in an environment designed to inspire," says Cristiano Rinaldi, President, Capella Hotel Group.

"This residency reflects our commitment to meaningful connections between art, place, and purpose." Designed by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, Patina Maldives offers guests wellness journeys, music programmes and culinary experiences alongside the resort's vibrant community.

The residency reflects Patina's approach to meaningful connection – with oneself, with others, and with the places that shape us. Like the Patina effect, this programme creates lasting marks that transform moments into memories.