2025 FIDEM CONFERENCE REPORTS

 

The winner of the coveted Gran Prix award at the XXXVIII FIDEM MÜNICH 2025 (Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d'Art), was American medalist Jim Licaretz. Licaretz is only the second American to win since the Grand Prix was established in 1992.

According to the FIDEM website, The jury, comprised of Australian delegate and former Grand Prix winner Michael Meszaros, Portuguese delegate and Executive Committee member João Bernardo dos Santos, and congress organization member David Weidgenannt, made the following considerations regarding their decision: “Jim Licartez's work Autoritratto di Fantasia presented a strong design that directly addressed the subject. The title of the medal perfectly captures the key to its meaning. In this excellent self-portrait, the face looks into the distance while the brain focuses on fantasy and recalls the past. The ring forms a circle that contains the idea and creates a private space for the imagination. A range of fantasies, memories, and influences is suggested by the small panels springing from the head — antiquity, literature, music, mystery. The medal was beautifully modelled, cast, and patinated, representing a perfect marriage of innovation and traditional values.

The artist himself describes the medal in the exhibition catalogue as: "Thinking about medals I have made over the last few years." Licaretz goes on to describe the medals pictured above his exploded head as "Paul Auster, esteemed Jewish author and filmmaker, Leonard Bernstein, a great Jewish composer, and at the top right, a piece called Momento Mori – female nude with skulls. At the lower left is a medal of Akhenaten, a rather infamous Egyptian Pharoah."

The self-standing 4 x 4 x 1 inch bonded bronze Autoritratto di Fantasia medal can be ordered for $125 by contacting jimlicaretz@gmail.com or 310-686-0920.

The contemporary art medal exhibition and conference recently was held in Munich, Germany. Under the title of "Our Myths, Our Roots" the public exhibition consisted of just over 650 medals and is presented in a profusely illustrated catalog 260 page catalog edited by Martin Hirsch and David Weidgenannt of the Staatliche Munzsannlung Munchen (Munich Coin Cabinet). The medals are on display until January 2026 at the Staatiche Antikensammlungen museum in the Koingplatz complex.

In addition to the exhibition, a multi-day conference of lectures were held in the Haus der Kulturinstitute.

Philip Attwood, former keeper of coins at the British Museum and president of FIDEM since 2012 turned over the reins to Canadian artist Susan Taylor. The Grand Prix award for best medal in the exhibition was awarded to Jim Licaretz of the USA, for his medal titled Autoritratto di Fantasia, 100x100x22 mm bonded aluminum, cast.

The XXXIX FIDEM congress and exhibition is slated for fall 2027 in Prague, Czech Republic.

For more information about FIDEM, contact the US Delegate, George Cuhaj at george.cuhaj@yahoo.com.

 

Official Conference Medal designed by Eva Backofen of Dresden and features an ancient god of blacksmithing with a façade of the Glyptothek museum where the exhibition is held. The reverse has a incuse inscription.67mm bronze

 

USA Delegation Medal. Designed by Ross Pollard, featured a stein on the obverse and a linden leaf sprig on the reverse. Struck at the Medalcraft Mint, Green Bay, WI. 38mm bronze

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