In 2022, the Paul Thorel Foundation, in collaboration with the Gallerie d’Italia of Intesa Sanpaolo, launched the Paul Thorel Prize, which will be awarded every year from 2023 to three Italian artists or art collectives, irrespective of age. The Prize is one of many initiatives created by the Foundation to commemorate Paul Thorel’s pioneering work in the digital image, and is in tune with his spirit of sharing and generous support to the arts and culture that characterised his entire life. The three winning artists will carry out an artistic project financed by the Foundation during a residence in Naples in Paul Thorel’s studio, and will be the owners of the works produced. The studio, located in the Chiaia district, is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that allow the on-site realisation of high-quality digital works, from processing and printing of files, up to assembly and framing. The studio includes a guesthouse equipped with an independent bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, and during the residence the artists will be able to count on the personal and technical support of the Foundation team. The residence, which also includes a fee to cover the expenses of the stay in Naples, will takes place between Spring and Autumn of the calendar year, on dates to be agreed with the winner. At the end of the project, the Foundation will produce documentation in the form of a catalogue and curate a public exhibition in collaboration with the partner institutions.

The three winning artists are selected on the basis of an unpublished project to be realised during a one-month residency in the large Neapolitan studio of Paul Thorel, which thus returns to being a living place of creation and artistic production. The studio, located in the Chiaia district, is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that allow the realisation of high-quality digital prints on site, from processing and printing of files, up to assembly and framing. The studio includes a guesthouse equipped with an independent bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, and during the residence the artists will be able to count on the personal and technical support of the Foundation team.

For each edition of the Prize, the Board of the Foundation relies on a group of four selectors chosen from among the most authoritative experts in the critical and editorial fields of the Italian contemporary art scene. They will be asked to identify 12 unpublished projects by as many Italian artists or collectives, and will subsequently participate in the jury together with the representatives of the Foundation and the partner institutions of the Prize — one for each body. The three winning artists carry out the artistic project at the Foundation’s expense and are the owners of the works produced. The residence, which also includes a fee to cover the expenses of the stay in Naples, takes place between Spring and Autumn of the calendar year, on dates to be agreed with the winner. At the end of the project, the Foundation will produce documentation in the form of a catalogue and curate a public exhibition in collaboration with the partner institutions.