(August 21, 2024 – New York City) – Champagne Pommery is pleased to announce that they will present its sixth annual Pommery Prize at The Armory Show art fair taking place September 6th– 8th with a special preview on September 5th.
This iconic award recognizes an exceptional presentation within the Platform section of the fair, which displays large-scale artworks, installations, and site-specific commissions across the Javits Center. A panel of judges comprised of curators and collectors will determine the recipient of the $20,000 prize, shared between the artist and presenting gallery. Nathalie Vranken, Co-Owner and Deputy CEO of Vranken-Pommery Monopole and Pauline Vranken, CEO, Vranken Pommery America, will present the prize.
2024 marks the 150th anniversary of Madame Pommery’s iconic introduction of Brut Champagne to the world. Since then, Maison Pommery has crafted cuvées that prioritize meticulous selection and unique expertise, blending tradition with modernity year after year.
As we commemorate this groundbreaking discovery, Pommery’s winemaker has crafted an exclusive cuvée, Cuvee Apanage 1874, which will embark on a special journey from the historic Pommery cellars to the Armory Show aboard a sailboat, continuing Madame Pommery’s innovative legacy. This exceptional sea voyage revives a historic tradition. Just
120 years ago, the first bottles of Pommery champagne arrived in America by sailboat, aboard the Foudre de Gale.
This return to their roots perfectly illustrates Maison Pommery’s dedication to environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. By transporting champagne by sailboat, Champagne Pommery is taking a significant step in their global effort to reduce their carbon footprint and promote renewable energy sources.
Madame Pommery, a woman ahead of her time, demonstrated a lifelong passion for the arts, evident in her wine cellars adorned with monumental brass sculptures by Gustave Navlet and the commissioning of Émilie Gallé’s largest-ever sculpted cask.
Her cultural contributions extend to donating Jean-François Millet’s The Gleaners to the Louvre, now on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Pommery continues this tradition by opening their Gallo-Roman chalk cellars annually since 2002, providing a platform for artists to showcase their talents during the “Expériences Pommery” exhibitions. Celebrated globally, Champagne Pommery is renowned for its innovative approach to tradition, crafting a unique collection of champagnes that pay homage to the pioneering spirit of its founder.
The Domaine often collaborates with seasoned curators to showcase a diverse range of artists who explore societal issues and the human condition within stunning, historic settings. These exhibitions celebrate the rich cultural history of the maison, the art of champagne, and French heritage.
This year also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Armory Show, New York’s premier art fair known for showcasing the world’s leading international galleries and a diverse array of modern and contemporary art and artists. As in previous years all parts of the show will benefit from a unified thread, with the 2024 curated sections examining an overarching theme of art-historical reverberations and echoes in the present. Curated by Eugenie Tsai, Platform will examine the overarching theme through large-scale installations and site-specific works that explore the interplay of memory, material, and spirit.
The Pommery Prize reflects this commitment by recognizing contemporary artists. Last year’s award went to Barthélémy Toguo for his piece “Urban Requiem.”
The 2024 Pommery Prize winner will be revealed during a special event at The Armory Show on September 5th. The celebration begins with the unveiling of the new, exclusive Apanage 1874 and a walk-through of the Pommery Champagne Lounge at 3 PM, followed by the award presentation and celebratory toast at 4 PM.
Champagne Pommery
In the world of champagne and sparkling wines, Vranken-Pommery is a name synonymous with refinement, tradition and excellence. Its rich history dates back to the 19th century and the brand remains a prominent symbol of French luxury and savoir faire today, with over 2,600 hectares of land, spread throughout vineyards in Champagne, Provence, The Camargue and Douro. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the creation of Brut champagne by Madame Pommery.
The Armory Show
A cornerstone of New York’s cultural landscape since 1994, The Armory Show opens New York’s fall art season by bringing the world’s leading international contemporary and modern art galleries to the Javits Center each year. The fair emphasizes thoughtful programming, elevated presentations, curatorial excellence, meaningful institutional partnerships, and engaging public art activations. In 2023, The Armory Show was acquired by Frieze, one of the world’s leading organizations for modern and contemporary art. For more information on The Armory Show, visit thearmoryshow.com.
