Foundwork
Annual juried prize awarding $10,000 grants to emerging and mid-career artists worldwide, with jury of leading curators, gallerists, and artists.
The Foundwork Artist Prize is an annual juried award celebrating outstanding emerging and mid-career artists working in any medium. Each year, one honouree receives an unrestricted $10,000 USD grant along with studio visits from a distinguished jury of curators, gallerists, and artists drawn from leading institutions worldwide. Three additional artists are named to the Short List and each receives a $1,000 USD micro-grant in support of their practice.
The prize is open to artists residing almost anywhere in the world — the only requirement is maintaining an active, published profile on the Foundwork platform during the selection period (25 September–31 December 2026). Your profile must include at least six published artworks and an artist statement. Foundwork memberships cost $6 USD per month, with a 30-day free trial available to new members.
There is no separate application fee. Artists are evaluated equally regardless of membership type (paid, trial, or complimentary). Selection is based on artistic merit — defined as demonstrating a critical engagement with and distinctive contribution to one's chosen medium. The first six artworks displayed on your profile will be reviewed by staff and jury, along with your artist statement.
The selection process works as follows: Foundwork staff review all eligible profiles and select 50 finalists, which are then passed to the jury. The jury selects one provisional honouree and three provisional shortlisted artists, who are each contacted by email and asked to confirm their eligibility.
The 2026 jury includes Stefan Benchoam (Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City), François Ghebaly (Ghebaly Gallery, Los Angeles/New York), Manuela Moscoso (CARA, New York), Gabi Ngcobo (Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam), and Esther Schipper (Esther Schipper Gallery, Berlin/Paris/Seoul).
Note: Residents of certain countries and jurisdictions are not eligible, including Argentina, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, UAE, Quebec (Canada), and Arizona (USA), among others. Past honourees are permanently ineligible; past shortlisted artists are ineligible for three years following their selection.
