The "Fred-Thieler-Preis für Malerei" is given to outstanding painters. It was donated by the Berlin painter Fred Thieler (1916–1999).

Since 1992, the award, which is endowed with 10.000 Euros, has been celebrated on the 17th of March, the birthday of Fred Thieler, since 2007 every two years. The grand old man of Art Informel dedicated the award to artists who live and work in Germany and whose works, independent from trends on the market, point toward the direction of the development of contemporary art by following their own "position signs."

The purpose of the foundation is to encourage present-day artists by means of the award. This is associated with an exhibition of the artists’ works and the publication of the laudation.