15 Artists Named 2026 Joan Mitchell Fellows
Each recipient will receive $60,000 in unrestricted funding distributed over five years, in the spirit of the namesake abstract painter’s commitment to “aid and assist” artists.
The Joan Mitchell Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 Fellowships, a prestigious prize awarded to visual artists in the United States. Fifteen artists were selected for the fellowship, which includes $60,000 in unrestricted funding spread over five years, in line with the late abstract artist's commitment to supporting painters and sculptors.
Among the fellows is Beatriz Cortez, an El Salvador-born artist based in Los Angeles, who will use the funds to create monumental welded-steel sculptures inspired by Maya stelae, similar to those she exhibited at Storm King Art Center and the Venice Biennale. Cortez, who was recently appointed professor of Chicana/o/x Studies at the University of California, Davis, noted that the stability provided by the fellowship will allow her to explore new ways of working.
Other artists receiving the fellowship include Krista Clark from Atlanta, Georgia; Cameron Clayborn from Memphis, Tennessee; Sam Frésquez from Chicago, Illinois; and Dianna Settles from Lexington, Kentucky. Cortez highlighted the importance of having an award that is awarded annually, as it enables her to take her time to explore long-term projects and new techniques.
Settles expressed her gratitude for the no-strings-attached funds, which will allow her to hire a studio assistant and work at a larger scale. Frésquez plans to use the funds to purchase a truck for transporting larger materials.
The selection process for the Joan Mitchell Fellowship involves an initial pool of artists recommended by 125 nominators, who then submit online applications. This year, 41% of the nominators identified as working artists. The foundation's total commitment to the cohort is about $1.3 million, factoring in community-building and skill development opportunities.
Solana Chehtman, director of artist programs at the Joan Mitchell Foundation, explained that the fellowship aims to address the challenges faced by artists whose careers do not follow traditional, linear paths.
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