Calling All Artists: Artist Of The Year 2026 Is Open For Submissions
Every year, artists create work that tells us something about the world around us. Some explore personal experiences, others question the way we see things, and many find new ways to express ideas that are difficult to put into words. Each artist follows a different path, building a practice shaped by their experiences, curiosities, and the things that matter to them. And every year, we come across artists whose work deserves a little more time, a wider audience, and a place to be remembered.
At Arts to Hearts Project, we believe that recognizing artists should go beyond a single exhibition, a moment of attention, or a name appearing on a screen. Artists spend years developing their work, experimenting with new ideas, and finding their own voices. Their journeys look different, and so do the opportunities that come their way. We want to create more spaces where their work can be discovered, appreciated, and brought together in a way that feels meaningful.
That is why we return to Artist Of The Year every year, bringing together 100 selected artists in one hardcover collectible book. It is our way of celebrating the many different practices shaping contemporary art today and creating a publication that artists can be part of, return to, and hold on to for years to come.
Now, as we open submissions for the 2026 edition, we are looking forward to discovering the artists and artworks that will become part of this year’s collection. Whether you have spent decades building your practice or are still finding your footing as an artist, we want to see the work you are making and the ideas behind it.
With Jennifer Rizzo joining us as Guest Curator, this year’s edition will bring together 100 artists whose work reflects the diversity of contemporary artistic practice. Among them, one artist will be named Artist Of The Year 2026, receiving a $500 cash prize, a trophy, and a dedicated four-page feature in the book.
But at its heart, this project is about more than a single title. It is about bringing artists together, making room for different perspectives, and creating a lasting record of the creative voices working today. We invite you to be part of the 2026 edition and share your work with us.
About The Project
Artist Of The Year is an annual publishing initiative by Arts to Hearts Project created to bring together 100 selected artists in a hardcover collectible book. Each edition offers a considered selection of artists working across different mediums, subjects, and approaches, creating a space where their practices can be encountered alongside one another.
We know that an artist’s work can reach people in many different ways. It might be discovered in a gallery, through an online platform, or in a publication that introduces it to an entirely new audience. Artist Of The Year brings these individual discoveries together in one place, allowing readers to explore a range of artistic practices and the ideas that shape them.
The selection is open to artists working at different stages of their careers. We are interested in the work they create, the decisions behind it, and the ways their practices continue to develop. By bringing these artists into one publication, we hope to create an opportunity for their work to be seen beyond the audiences they may already reach.
Each edition also becomes part of something that grows over time. As new artists are selected each year, the books build a collection that documents the creative practices and perspectives present in contemporary art at different moments. Together, they offer a way to look back at the artists who were making work, asking questions, and exploring new possibilities during a particular year.
For the 2026 edition, Jennifer Rizzo joins us as Guest Curator, bringing her perspective to the selection process. From the 100 artists featured in the book, one will receive the title Artist Of The Year 2026, along with a $500 cash prize, a trophy, and a dedicated four-page feature. The remaining selected artists will also be featured in the publication, making the edition a shared celebration of the artists and practices that come together within it.
Artist Of The Year is, ultimately, an invitation to be part of that growing collection. If you have been creating work that you believe in, exploring new ideas, or continuing to develop your artistic voice, we would love to see what you are making. Your work could become part of the 2026 edition.
Meet Our Guest Juror: Jennifer Rizzo
Every edition of Artist Of The Year brings together artists with different experiences, ideas, and ways of seeing the world. Having a thoughtful curatorial perspective is an important part of that process, helping us discover work that deserves to be seen and bring together a collection that reflects the range of creative practices today.
For the 2026 edition, we are delighted to welcome Jennifer Rizzo as our Guest Curator. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Jennifer is a curator, writer, and partner at Hashimoto Contemporary. Since 2011, she has worked with galleries across New York City, focusing on emerging and contemporary art. Over the years, she has built lasting relationships with artists, collectors, and the wider art community, with a curatorial practice rooted in discovering emerging talent, supporting artists, and creating opportunities for their work to reach new audiences.
Her experience extends beyond gallery spaces. Jennifer has curated features for Create! Magazine, including Issues #10 and #43, and has served as a visiting critic for the Wassaic Project. Through interviews, editorial features, and podcast appearances, she has also contributed to conversations around contemporary art and the people shaping it. Her projects include producing World Wide Walls Vol. 1: 10 Years of International Street Art and contributing an interview to Scott Albrecht’s monograph IN TIME.
We are excited to have Jennifer bring her experience and perspective to Artist Of The Year 2026. Her commitment to championing emerging artists and connecting creative practices with new audiences speaks to what this project hopes to achieve. We look forward to seeing the artists and ideas that come together in this year’s edition under her curatorial guidance.
This Year’s Theme: Open
Art does not always follow a single direction. An artist might spend years exploring one subject before finding themselves drawn to something entirely different. Some work begins with a personal experience, while other pieces grow out of observation, experimentation, or questions that do not have easy answers. We believe there is room for all these approaches, and that is exactly why the theme for Artist Of The Year 2026 is Open.
For this edition, we want to give artists the freedom to share work that feels true to their practice, without asking them to fit their ideas into a predetermined subject. Whether you work with painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, digital art, mixed media, or another visual medium, we welcome you to submit work that reflects the way you think, create, and engage with the world.
Your work might be abstract, figurative, conceptual, experimental, deeply personal, or inspired by the things you observe around you. It could reflect a direction you have been exploring for years or mark a new chapter in your creative journey. What matters is that the work represents your artistic vision and gives us a sense of the practice you are building.
An open theme also means there is no single kind of artwork we are looking for. We are interested in the variety of perspectives artists bring to contemporary art, the choices they make, and the ideas that continue to shape their work. There is no single way to respond to an open theme. We invite you to submit the work that best represents your creative vision and the direction of your practice.
What’s In It For Artists?
Being selected for Artist Of The Year 2026 means becoming part of a hardcover collectible book that brings together 100 artists in one publication. Created by Arts to Hearts Project, the book offers an opportunity to present your work to new audiences, receive recognition for your practice, and become part of a growing collection documenting contemporary artists year after year.
Every selected artist will receive a dedicated space in the publication, along with recognition and promotional opportunities through Arts to Hearts Project’s publishing and marketing platforms.
Every Selected Artist
Two-Page Dedicated Spread
Your work and artist profile featured across two professionally designed pages in the hardcover book.
Official Certificate Of Recognition
A certificate recognizing your selection for Artist Of The Year 2026.
Community Promotion
Promotion of your work through Arts to Hearts Project’s community of 200,000+ followers.
Email Promotion
Your work featured in the Arts to Hearts Project newsletter.
Book Distribution
The publication is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Arts to Hearts Project Shop.
Additional Recognition For The Top Three Artists
Beyond the 100 artists selected for the book, three artists will receive additional recognition for their work. The Winner, First Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up will each receive a dedicated four-page feature in the publication, a trophy, a certificate of recognition, a dedicated promotional feature, and an Artsy artist listing through Arts to Hearts Project.
Winner
- $500 cash award
- Four-page dedicated feature in the book
- Trophy
- Certificate of recognition
- Dedicated promotional feature
- Artsy artist listing through Arts to Hearts Project
First Runner-Up
- Four-page dedicated feature in the book
- Trophy
- Certificate of recognition
- Dedicated promotional feature
- Artsy artist listing through Arts to Hearts Project
Second Runner-Up
- Four-page dedicated feature in the book
- Trophy
- Certificate of recognition
- Dedicated promotional feature
- Artsy artist listing through Arts to Hearts Project
The $500 cash award will be presented exclusively to the Winner of Artist Of The Year 2026. Each of these opportunities is designed to give selected artists another way to share their work and make their practices more visible. Whether you are chosen as the overall winner or included among the 100 featured artists, your work will become part of a publication created to celebrate the people making art today.
Who Can Apply?
Artist Of The Year 2026 is open to artists working across a wide range of visual art mediums, subjects, and creative approaches. With no set theme to follow, this edition welcomes artists to present the work that best represents their vision and practice.
Who Can Participate?
- Artists aged 18 and above.
- Artists from anywhere in the world.
- Emerging, mid-career, and established artists.
- Artists working professionally, independently, or as part of a personal practice.
- Individual artists only.
You do not need to have an established gallery career or a long list of exhibitions to apply. Artists at different stages of their journeys are welcome to share their work for consideration.
What Kind Of Work Can Be Submitted?
We welcome submissions across a broad range of visual art forms, including: Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textiles, collage, mixed media, digital art, installation, ceramics, fiber art, conceptual art, and experimental practices. There are no restrictions on subject matter, style, or medium. Figurative, abstract, representational, conceptual, experimental, and interdisciplinary work are all welcome.
Your Work Should
- Be your original work and represent your own creative practice.
- Be submitted as a high-resolution digital image.
- Be available for publication if selected.
- Include accurate artwork details and artist information.
AI-generated artwork is not eligible for this edition. Previously exhibited, published, or publicly displayed work may be submitted, provided you hold the necessary rights to the work. Whether you have spent years developing a distinctive approach or are exploring an entirely new direction, we invite you to share the work that best represents who you are as an artist.
How To Apply
If Artist Of The Year 2026 feels like the right opportunity for your work, we would love to see your submission.
Start by choosing an artwork that represents your creative practice. It might be a piece that captures the ideas you have been exploring for years or one that reflects a new direction you are excited to pursue. Since the theme is open, you do not need to create something specifically for this call. Choose work that feels meaningful to you and offers a strong sense of your artistic vision.
Before submitting, make sure your artwork image is high-resolution and that your artist information and artwork details are accurate. Your submission should be original, and you should have the necessary rights to have the work published if selected.
Once you have prepared your materials, complete the official Artist Of The Year 2026 submission form and follow the instructions provided there.
Take a little time to review your submission before sending it. The artwork you choose is an opportunity to introduce your practice to the curatorial team, so select something you feel represents your work well.
We look forward to discovering the different artists, ideas, and creative approaches that will shape this year’s edition.
Submission Deadline is November 15, 2026
The deadline to submit your work for Artist Of The Year 2026 is November 15, 2026.
If you have been considering sharing your work with Arts to Hearts Project, this is your invitation to take that next step. We welcome artists from around the world to submit work that reflects their creative vision and become part of a publication celebrating 100 artists working across contemporary art today.
Choose the work you believe in, tell us a little about your practice through your submission, and give your art the opportunity to be discovered by a wider audience.
We cannot wait to see what you have been creating and who will become part of Artist Of The Year 2026.
