Artist of the Year 2026

About this call

Artist of the Year is an annual publishing initiative by Arts to Hearts Project that brings together 100 selected artists in a hardcover collectible book. The 2026 edition has an open theme and Jennifer Rizzo, a Brooklyn based curator and partner at Hashimoto Contemporary, as Guest Curator. Every selected artist gets a two-page spread, a certificate and promotion through the project's community and newsletter; the book is sold through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Arts to Hearts Project Shop. One artist is named Artist of the Year 2026 and receives a $500 cash prize, a trophy and a four-page feature; the first and second runners-up also receive a four-page feature and a trophy. The submission page lists New York, USA.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Painting / Drawing / Sculpture / Photography / Printmaking / Textile / Mixed Media / New Media / Installation / Ceramics
• Entry fee: See official site
• Artists aged 18 and above from anywhere in the world, at any career stage; individual artists only. Any visual art medium. Work must be original, submitted as a high-resolution digital image, available for publication if selected, with accurate artwork details and artist information; AI-generated artwork is not eligible; previously exhibited, published or publicly displayed work is accepted if you hold the necessary rights. The portal takes JPG or PNG only, at least 2000px on the longest side (300 DPI preferred), with no watermarks. Submitting means paying a fee, but the submission page does not state the amount (it says to log in for more details); the portal's FAQ says fees vary by tier and deadline stage, are set in each call's pricing table and are non-refundable once paid, and mentions Early Bird rates, multi-artwork discounts and hardship waivers for those who qualify. The FAQ also says deadlines are in EST unless stated otherwise.