ATH New Release : 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026 Is Out Now!
Every year, new creative voices enter the wider conversation, bringing with them ideas, perspectives, and ways of working that expand how we understand contemporary art. 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026 gathers a selection of these voices into one volume, offering a closer look at the artists and practices shaping this moment.
The fourth edition of Arts to Hearts Project’s 100 Emerging Artworks series brings together 100 artists from around the world, with their artworks, stories, and conversations presented together. Each selection offers an intimate view into an individual practice, giving readers not only a chance to see the work, but also to understand the ideas and experiences behind it.
For collectors and art lovers, the book offers an opportunity to encounter artists beyond the familiar names and discover work at an exciting point in each artist’s journey. It is a volume to explore when looking for new artists to follow, expanding a collection, or simply experiencing the breadth of contemporary art being made across the world.
The fourth edition also turns that experience into something made to be kept. Presented as a premium hardcover with refined gold detailing and a distinctive cutout cover, its large “100” reveals the artwork beneath, making the cover itself an introduction to what lies inside. Elegant, substantial, and rich with new perspectives, 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026 is both a celebration of emerging talent and a record of the creative voices shaping this moment in contemporary art.
The Project: 100 Emerging Artworks
100 Emerging Artworks is an annual publishing project that began in 2023 with a commitment to documenting and celebrating new creative voices from around the world. Each year, the open call welcomes thousands of submissions, reflecting the scale, diversity, and energy of emerging artistic practice today. From this global pool, 100 artworks are carefully selected for the hardcover edition, giving each chosen artist a dedicated two-page spread to present their work alongside the ideas and experiences that shape their practice.
The project was created to offer more than a platform for artists to be seen. With every edition, it becomes a yearly record of a contemporary art landscape that is constantly shifting, expanding, and evolving. The selected works span a wide range of mediums and approaches, revealing the many ways artists respond to their surroundings, experiment with ideas, refine their craft, and reimagine what art can be.
Over time, 100 Emerging Artworks has come to represent discovery, intention, and the belief that emerging art deserves thoughtful attention. By bringing these artists together in one place, the project creates a space for reflection while preserving creative voices that might otherwise remain unseen. Across its pages, a hundred different perspectives become part of one larger conversation about how creativity continues to grow, change, and inspire across the world.
The Theme: The Courage to Be Open
Before there is a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, or even an idea, there is possibility, a moment when nothing has been decided yet and curiosity has more power than certainty. That spirit of possibility became the foundation of this fourth edition of 100 Emerging Artworks.
Since its beginning, the project has been built on a simple belief: some of the most important voices in contemporary art are still emerging. These artists are developing their visual languages, refining their ideas, taking creative risks, and shaping new ways of seeing the world. Their work deserves to be encountered with the same attention, seriousness, and respect given to more established names.
As this edition took shape, the extraordinary diversity of artists who have become part of the 100 Emerging Artworks journey made one thing clear: no single theme could fully contain the breadth of what artists are exploring today. So, this edition chose to remain open. Not because there was a lack of direction, but because openness itself felt like the most meaningful direction to offer.
An open theme is an act of trust. It trusts artists to determine what feels most urgent, relevant, and authentic within their practices. It creates room for experimentation, vulnerability, ambition, and discovery, allowing artists to present work shaped not by expectation, but by intention.
The works gathered in this volume reflect that freedom. They move across disciplines, materials, perspectives, and ideas. Some are deeply personal, while others engage with broader social, cultural, or environmental questions. Some invite contemplation; others challenge us to reconsider what we think we know. Together, they form a collection rich in individuality and connected by a shared commitment to creative expression.
In many ways, this is what makes emerging art so compelling. It exists at a moment of becoming, often driven by curiosity rather than certainty and exploration rather than conclusion. It reminds us that art is not only about finding answers, but also about asking better questions.
As you move through these pages, we invite you to embrace the spirit in which this edition was created: with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to encounter perspectives beyond your own. The future of art is not defined by a single movement, medium, or point of view. It is shaped by artists who are brave enough to explore freely, speak honestly, and create without boundaries. This book is a celebration of that freedom.
Honest Conversations With Four Artists
The book also begins with four heartfelt conversations that offer a closer look at the people and ideas behind the work. Each conversation opens a different window into an artist’s practice, touching on identity, emotion, symbolism, and the experiences that shape what they create.
The conversations include “The Faces in My Work Are Faces We All Wear” with Oğuzhan Atatanır, “The Faces She Gives to Objects” with Laura Burke, “The Words He Buries, The Feelings He Keeps” with Nate Ethington, and “The Symbol That Holds Two Worlds” with Marcos Alvarado, our Cash Award Winner.
Together, these conversations bring a personal dimension to the edition, allowing readers to move beyond the finished image and into the thoughts, stories, and intentions that make each artist’s work their own.
Meet Our Award Winners
Marcos Alvarado — 1st Prize Winner
Marcos Alvarado received the first prize for La Danza De La Esperanza (Blue Roof), a painting created during his 2025 residency at Estudio Arriba Abajo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bringing Sol and Luna together within a fragile home, the work explores opposing forces while using the blue tarp as a reference to fragility and resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Elisabeth Theo — 1st Runner Up
Elisabeth Theo was selected as the first runner up for Am to Pm, earning recognition as one of the standout works in this year’s edition. Her selected piece joins the collection of awarded works that reflect the range, individuality, and creative freedom celebrated throughout 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026.
Nancy Boisvert — 2nd Runner Up
Nancy Boisvert received the second runner-up recognition for Dreaming of the Descent. Her work forms part of this year’s award selection, adding another distinctive artistic voice to a group of artists whose practices demonstrate the breadth and individuality of emerging contemporary art
Meet Our Selected Artists
Each of the 100 selected artists has contributed to the making of this wonderful hardcover fourth edition, bringing their individual perspectives, creative practices, and unique ways of seeing into one shared volume. Together, their works create a diverse portrait of emerging contemporary art and celebrate the many voices shaping its future.
Bring Home 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026
With this fourth edition, we at Arts to Hearts Project have put our hearts into bringing 100 diverse and versatile artistic voices together in one beautifully crafted volume. It is a celebration of the artists creating, questioning, experimenting, and shaping what comes next in contemporary art.
More than a collection of artworks, this book is a record of the ideas, stories, and creative journeys that make each artist unique. We hope it becomes something you return to, discover new favorites in, and keep close for years to come. Pre-order your copy of 100 Emerging Artworks of 2026 and bring home a piece of this creative moment, whether it finds a place on your bookshelf, becomes part of your collection, or simply inspires you to keep looking, discovering, and falling in love with new art.
