BERLIN PORTRAIT AWARD 2026

Sofia is a London-based figurative artist, classically trained at the London Atelier of Representational Art, where she later became Director of Studies. A recipient of scholarships from LARA, the Art Renewal Centre, and the Florence Academy of Art, Sofia creates artwork for film and television, with credits including major Netflix productions such as The Witcher and Black Mirror. Sofia exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London this year.

Torsten Wolber is a German figurative painter specializing in portraits and the human form. Formerly an illustrator, he turned fully to painting in 2020, developing a spontaneous, process-driven style that emphasizes emotional depth and spontenaety. His work has been exhibited by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, including his portrait The Harlequin’s Dream and recieved the 2024 Bold Brush Award.

Asa Medhurst is a South London–based figurative artist working in oils and charcoal. A graduate of the Kent Institute of Art & Design, The Royal Drawing School, Art Academy and London Fine Arts, he has exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, been a contestant on Sky Arts Portrait Painter of the Year and been shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award.

Alex Tzavaras is a UK-based oil painter whose work has been shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He also founded the immensely popular YouTube channel Simplify Drawing and Painting, sharing his techniques with a worldwide audience. Alex continues to teach realist portrait painting in London in the Alla Prima style.

Mina Mohtasham is a U.S.-based painter and educator whose practice also encompasses drawing and sculpture. She earned her BFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and completed the Core Drawing and Painting Program at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. A two-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, Mina has received numerous awards for her work in painting, drawing, and sculpture. Formerly an instructor at the Lyme Academy, she now teaches internationally through workshops and private classes in the United States.

Based in Germany, Nurzada Nussipzhan studied drawing and painting at the Barcelona Academy of Art, where she later taught. Her work spans portraiture and landscape, often inspired by her natural surroundings, and has been exhibited at the MEAM and the Liceu Opera House in Barcelona. Since 2023, she has been Painting Program Director at the Academy of Fine Art Germany.

Valentin Scheiner is a Berlin-based artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. His practice spans editorial illustration, corporate identity and motion design, portrait drawing, and social media content. Known for his vibrant style that pushes portraiture toward caricature and character design, he often works in colored pencil. Alongside his creative work, Valentin teaches and hosts classes and workshops in Berlin.