NEW YORK, MARCH 17, 2026 – The American Academy of Arts and Letters announces the nine recipients of its 2026 Awards in Art. The 300 members of Arts and Letters nominate candidates for awards, and a rotating committee of artists selects the winners. This year, the artist award committee members were Arlene Shechet (chair), Matthew Barney, Coco Fusco, and Charline von Heyl.
Given annually since 1942, the Award of Merit Medal, which is accompanied by $25,000, is given in rotation to outstanding American painters, short story writers, sculptors, novelists, poets, and playwrights. This year, the Award of Merit Medal in Sculpture will be given to Jessica Stockholder.
Josephine Halvorson, Tishan Hsu, Marie Lorenz, Carlos Martiel, and Frances Stark will receive Arts and Letters Awards of $10,000 each to honor and encourage excellent creative work.
The Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence and Jacob Lawrence Awards of $10,000 each recognize extraordinary achievement in the visual arts, and will be given to Meriem Bennani and Daniel Joseph Martinez, respectively.
The Rosenthal Family Foundation Award for Painting of $10,000, recognizing a young painter of distinction, will be given to Celeste Rapone.
The art awards will be presented alongside the architecture, literature, and music awards at Arts and Letters’s annual Ceremonial in May.
A full list of 2026 art award recipients follows.
Arts and Letters
Founded in 1898, the American Academy of Arts and Letters represents the highest standards of artistic achievement in this country, and our community of members are among the leading contemporary architects, visual artists, writers, and composers. Arts and Letters honors creative accomplishment through the election of members, the conferment of awards, and presenting public exhibitions and interdisciplinary programs at our historic buildings in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.
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2026 Art Award Recipients List
Arts and Letters Awards
Josephine Halvorson
Tishan Hsu
Marie Lorenz
Carlos Martiel
Frances Stark
Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Award
Meriem Bennani
Jacob Lawrence Award
Daniel Joseph Martinez
Award of Merit Medal in Sculpture
Jessica Stockholder
Rosenthal Family Foundation Award in Painting
Celeste Rapone
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