Madelon Vriesendorp, Dutch artist and co-founder of the architectural firm OMA, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Soane Medal, becoming the first female UK-based artist to receive the award since its inception in 2017. This prestigious honor is annually presented by the Sir John Soane Museum in London to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing public understanding of architecture and the visual arts.
Vriesendorp is widely recognized for her surreal and witty visual language, which has transformed the way modern and postmodern architecture is represented and understood. Her works, combining playfulness with critical thinking, create vivid and impactful images that continue to inspire generations of architects around the world.
Born in 1945 in the Netherlands, Vriesendorp studied at Central Saint Martins in London. She moved to New York in 1972 and, three years later, co-founded the architectural firm OMA with Rem Koolhaas, Elia, and Zoe Zenghelis. Her illustrations became an integral part of OMA’s conceptual identity and were featured on the covers of architecture books and magazines. Among her most notable works is the illustration Flagrant Délit, depicting a romanticized relationship between the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, illuminated by the Statue of Liberty’s torch; this image also appeared on the cover of the iconic book Delirious New York.
Vriesendorp’s artistic vision continued to influence OMA as the firm evolved from conceptual designs to built projects. Her mural for the Netherlands Dance Theatre in The Hague exemplifies the deep connection between her art and the firm’s architecture. Her works have been featured in numerous international exhibitions, including The World of Madelon Vriesendorp, which has been shown since 2008 at prestigious institutions such as the Architectural Association (AA) in London, the Venice Biennale, and the Swiss Architecture Museum. The awarding of the 2025 Soane Medal affirms her enduring contribution to expanding the boundaries of art and architecture.
The medal will be presented to Vriesendorp on November 18, 2025, at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where she will deliver a public lecture. The jury for this year’s award, chaired by Amin Taha, selected Vriesendorp from among international nominees. Previous recipients include notable figures such as Hanif Kara, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, Peter Barber, Marina Tabassum, Denise Scott Brown, Kenneth Frampton, and Rafael Moneo. This recognition reflects a broader movement toward celebrating diverse voices and approaches in global architecture, fostering more creative and human-centered perspectives in contemporary practice.