The esteemed Prix Marcel Duchamp, France's most significant art award, has been bestowed upon the artistic collaboration of David Brognon and Stéphanie Rollin for 2026. Their diverse artistic creations, which span various mediums including installations, sculptures, video art, live performances, and photographic works, garnered the attention and admiration of the judging panel. This year's special nominee exhibition was hosted at the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris, as the Centre Pompidou was temporarily closed. Within this setting, Brognon and Rollin presented their thought-provoking piece titled "5,376 years, 1,892 months, 1,110 days, 1,201 hours," an installation that incorporated coin-operated machines containing tokens typically used in recovery programs to mark periods of sobriety. This recognition highlights their distinctive contribution to contemporary art and their profound exploration of human experiences.
The Pinnacle of French Art Recognition
The Prix Marcel Duchamp, widely regarded as the most prestigious art award in France, annually celebrates an artist or a duo whose work demonstrates exceptional innovation and impact. The award not only confers significant artistic recognition but also comes with a substantial financial prize of €35,000, underscoring its importance in the art world. This year's selection process saw a deviation from the usual four nominees, with five distinguished artists and duos being chosen to participate in the final exhibition. This expanded field included Malagasy artist Joël Andrianomearisoa, Josèfa Ntjam, a participant in the previous year's Bienal de São Paulo, filmmaker and artist Laura Henno, and the now-lauded duo Brognon and Rollin. The exhibition's shift from its traditional venue, the Centre Pompidou, to the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris was a notable change for 2026, necessitated by the Pompidou's extended closure. This change provided a fresh context for the display of these contemporary works, allowing new dialogues to emerge within a different institutional space.
The jury for the 2026 Prix Marcel Duchamp comprised a distinguished group of figures from the art world, including prominent museum directors, seasoned collectors, and celebrated artists who have themselves contributed significantly to contemporary art. Among the esteemed members were Xavier Rey, director of the Centre Pompidou; Claude Bonnin, director of Adiaf, the organization that has steadfastly supported the prize since its inception in 2000; Akemi Shiraha from the Association Marcel Duchamp; and Fabrice Hergott, director of the Musée d’Art Moderne. The panel also included renowned collectors Fernando Arriola and Marie-Cécile Zinsou, along with influential artists Kader Attia (a former Duchamp Prize laureate from 2016) and Berlinde de Bruyckere. Further adding to the jury's expertise were Karin Hindsbo, director of the Tate Modern, and Christophe Leribault, president of the Château de Versailles. This diverse and experienced jury brought a wealth of knowledge and perspectives to the selection process, ensuring a thorough and discerning evaluation of the nominees' artistic achievements.
Brognon Rollin's Evocative Exhibition
For their compelling exhibition at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, titled "5,376 years, 1,892 months, 1,110 days, 1,201 hours," Brognon Rollin presented an installation that ingeniously utilized coin-pusher machines. These machines were not filled with typical arcade prizes but with sobriety tokens, symbolic of milestones achieved in recovery journeys by members of Alcoholics Anonymous. This striking choice of medium and content served to create a powerful commentary on the passage of time, the invisible struggles of addiction, and the profound resilience of the human spirit. Fabrice Hergott, director of the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, eloquently summarized the impact of their work, noting that Brognon Rollin's art gives tangible form to aspects of human experience that often remain unseen. He praised their ability to present these seemingly ordinary "fairground objects" in such a subtle yet profound installation, fundamentally altering viewers' perceptions. Hergott emphasized that their work offers a quiet but persistent statement on human vulnerability and invites a deeper exploration of our inner lives, fostering contemplation on themes of perseverance and recovery.
Beyond the primary prize awarded to the winner, ADIAF, the dedicated sponsor of the Prix Marcel Duchamp, demonstrates its commitment to fostering contemporary art by providing additional financial backing. This support includes a generous €40,000 in aid distributed among all the nominated artists and their respective galleries, recognizing their contributions and helping to sustain their artistic endeavors. Furthermore, ADIAF ensures that the works and profiles of all nominees are prominently featured in a dedicated annual publication, which serves as a vital record and promotional tool for their artistic practices. The captivating Prix Marcel Duchamp exhibition, showcasing Brognon Rollin's thought-provoking installation and the works of the other talented nominees, is scheduled to remain on public display at the Musée d’Art Moderne until February 7, 2027. This acclaimed exhibition was meticulously curated by Odile Burluraux, who serves as the chief curator at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, and Nicolas Liucci-Goutnikov, a distinguished curator at the Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’art moderne, who also heads the Bibliothèque Kandinsky. Their expertise and vision have brought together a compelling presentation that celebrates contemporary artistic innovation.