Villa Swagatam Indian Laureate Sajid Wajid Sheikh Awarded The Henry Clews Prize 2026-2027, France

Villa Swagatam resident and Indian artist Sajid Wajid Sheikh has been awarded the Henry Clews Prize 2026–2027, a prestigious distinction granted by the La Napoule Art Foundation. Awarded by invitation every two years, the prize supports a sculptor through a one-year residency at the Château de La Napoule, accompanied by a research and creation grant. The residency culminates in a summer exhibition presenting the works produced during the artist’s stay.

Created in honour of sculptor Henry Clews and his wife Marie Clews, the prize continues their vision of the château as a place dedicated to artistic freedom, experimentation, and international exchange. Through this programme, the historic site comes alive as a space of creation, inspiration, and dialogue between artists, particularly in the field of sculpture, which was central to Henry Clews’ work.

Sajid Wajid Sheikh first visited the Château de La Napoule in autumn 2025 as a resident of Villa Swagatam, a network of artistic and literary residencies implemented by the French Institute in India and the French Embassy in India. His selection for the Henry Clews Prize highlights the lasting artistic connections that can emerge from the programme’s residencies and the depth of the cultural dialogue fostered between France and India.

Commending multidisciplinary artist Sajid Wajid Sheikh, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, said: “Through programmes such as Villa Swagatam, France and India are not only fostering artistic dialogue but also laying the foundation for transformative experiences that shape the trajectories of emerging artists. I congratulate Mr Sajid Wajid Sheikh for winning the Henry Clews Prize, illustrating how these pathways, once initiated, can evolve independently and meaningfully, and contribute to the deepening cultural cooperation between South Asia and France.’”

Nelcy Mercier, Director of Operations the La Napoule Art Foundation, commented: ‘We are especially delighted to welcome Sajid Wajid Sheikh back to La Napoule as the laureate of the Henry Clews Prize. His work resonates deeply with the spirit of the château, a place where artistic experimentation is encouraged. During his Villa Swagatam residency last autumn, he demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity to the legacy of Henry Clews while bringing a powerful and very new contemporary perspective. We look forward to accompanying the development of his work during this new chapter.’”

Based between Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad, Sajid Wajid Sheikh is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice considers the artist as a witness to their time. Through installations, sculptures, mechanical devices, films, and drawings, he explores tensions between oppression and resistance, giving shape to often silenced narratives. His kinetic installations frequently employ machines as metaphors for systemic dysfunctions, while his drawings and paintings evoke cycles of conflict and violence. His work has recently been presented at ARCO Madrid, the India Art Fair, and the Mumbai Urban Art Festival 2022, among others.

During his first residency at La Napoule, he developed a series of ceramic works inspired by the universe of Henry Clews, with whom he perceives both formal and conceptual affinities. As part of the Henry Clews Prize, Sajid will return to the Château de La Napoule for a year-long residency from September 2026 to September 2027. The works created during this period will be presented in a summer exhibition at the château in July and August 2027.

The award marks a new turning point in the artist’s relationship with the Château de La Napoule and reflects the enduring role of artistic residencies in fostering international collaboration and creative exchanges.