The Jerzy Stajuda Prize for Art Criticism was proposed by art historian and critic Paweł Sosnowski and established in 1992. Originally held under the auspices of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, since 2001 under the patronage of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. The Prize is funded by Jerzy Stajuda’s heirs and the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, the Prize’s co-organiser since 2012.

The purpose of the Prize is to promote outstanding representatives of artistic life and commemorate the heritage of the painter and art critic, Jerzy Stajuda. It is awarded for achievements in the field of art criticism, curatorship and other artistic activities characterised by an independence of judgement professed by Jerzy Stajuda.

Members of the Jury include the curators of Jerzy Stajuda’s estate (Aleksandra Semenowicz, Jan Stajuda, Jeremi Stajuda) and Marcin Fedisz, Katarzyna Kozyra, Aleksander Półtorak, Agnieszka Szewczyk, Mahgdalena Ujma.

The Prize’s first recipient, in 1992, was Prof. Piotr Piotrowski for his book Dekada [Decade].

All recipients:

1992 Piotr Piotrowski
1993 Jaromir Jedliński
1994 Maryla Sitkowska
1995 Jan Michalski, Ryszard Ziarkiewicz
1996 Józef Chrobak
1997 Ewa Mikina
1998 Józef Chrobak and Marek Świca
1999 Hanna Wróblewska
2000 Piotr Szubert, prof. Mieczysław Porębski [honarary award]
2001 Izabela Kowalczyk
2002 Gerard Blum-Kwiatkowski
2003 Aneta Szyłak
2004 Marek Meschnik
2005 Jola Gola, Piotr Juszkiewicz
2006–2010 the Prize was not awarded
2011 Dorota Jarecka, Karol Sienkiewicz, Anda Rottenberg [honorary award]
2012 Piotr Kosiewski, Artur Żmijewski
2013 prof. Maria Poprzęcka [honorary award]
2014 Jakub Dąbrowski
2015 Joanna Kordjak and Agnieszka Szewczyk
2016 Tomasz Fudala, Dorota Monkiewicz
2017 Editors of „Szum” Magazine — Jakub Banasiak, Adam Mazur, Karolina Plinta and Bożenna Biskupska & In Situ Contemporary Art Foundation
2018 Łukasz Ronduda, Piotr Rypson

Secretary of the Prize:
Zofia Koźniewska