The PULSE Prize is a $2,500 cash grant that is awarded to an emerging artist of distinction featured in the IMPULSE section of the fair. The recipient is selected by the PULSE Committee based on the artist's presentation at the fair. The recipient is also given the opportunity to design the next limited-edition PULSE tote bag.
This year's tote bag will be designed by David Ellis, the winner of the PULSE Prize in New York, 2011. Past PULSE Prize recipients include Duke Riley, Eric Beltz, Emilion Chapela Perez, Philio Gurrey, Chris Natrop, Chen Chien-Jen, Travis Sommerville, and OK Mountain. Previous winners have worked in a wide variety of mediums and several have gone on to receive critical acclaim.
Previous PULSE Prize Winners:
| Miami 2011 | Larissa Nowicki | Man & Eve, London |
| Los Angeles 2011 | Alexander Massouras | Skylight Projects, New York |
| New York 2011 | David Ellis | Joshua Liner Gallery, New York |
| New York 2010 | Johanna Unzueta | RJ Fine Art, Stamford |
| Miami 2010 | Jorge Diaz Torres | Rica Gallery, Puerto Rico |
| New York 2009 | Eric Beltz | MORGAN LEHMAN, New York |
| Miami 2008 | Emilio Chapela Perez | EDS GALERIA, Mexico City |
| New York 2008 | Philip Gurrey | Madder139, London |
| Miami 2007 | CHEN Cheih-Jen | La Fabrica Galeria, Madrid |
| New York 2007 | Chris Natrop | BANK, Los Angeles |
| Miami 2006 | Travis Somerville | Nathan Larramendy Gallery, Ojai |
| New York 2006 | Duke Riley | Magnan Projects, New York |