The Swedish artist Anastasia Ax has been announced as the winner of the 2015 Faber-Castell International Drawing Award, worth €15,000 ($16,281).

A jury of international experts selected Ax from a shortlist of five contemporary artists for whom drawing is at the heart of their practice.

The 36-year-old Swedish artist won the award with an installation featuring 13 tons of recycled paper that she splattered with ink during a performance.

“The outstanding quality and diversity of these five nominees has made the jury’s task especially challenging,” the jury said in a statement. “After a lengthy discussion, the Prize has been awarded to an artist whose position opens new perspectives on the act of drawing today.”

Anastasia Ax, The Kid Below, Oslo (2009-2010).
Photo: Courtesy of Mats Karsbrink via Konsthallen Goteburg.

The jury explained that they selected Ax due to her “unexpected and impressive” interpretation of the traditional medium of ink on paper.

Ax uses these materials to create monumental paper-based sculptural works, which she combines with energetic performances that reference artistic practices ranging from action painting to calligraphy.

The jury concluded that “Ax’s artistic position opens up many possibilities for the future development of the prize.”

Anastasia Ax, The Kid Below, Oslo (2009-2010).
Photo: Courtesy of Mats Karsbrink via Konsthall Goteborgs.

Works from all five finalist are currently on view as part of the exhibition “Internationaler Faber-Castell Preis für Zeichnung 2015,” at Neues Museum, Nuremberg, Germany, from July 17-October 10, 2015.