Eight Art Writers Awarded $50,000 Each in 2026 Rabkin Prize

The Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation announced the winners of its 2026 Rabkin Prize, an annual award that honors outstanding art writers. This year, eight recipients were selected, each receiving a $50,000 cash prize. The prize aims to support writers who contribute significantly to the understanding and critique of contemporary art.

The 2026 cohort includes a diverse group of professionals such as academics, podcasters, journalists, and curators. Among them are Julia Halperin, a contributor to The Art Newspaper and co-founder of the Burns Halperin Report; Damien Davis, an artist and writer based in New Jersey; and Melaine Ferdinand-King, the inaugural curator of the African American Museum of Rhode Island. Other winners include Tyler Green, host of The Modern Art Notes Podcast; Alicia Inez Guzmán, a writer from the Southwest; Sarah Lewis, a Harvard professor and founder of the Vision & Justice initiative; Jan Tumlir, founding editor of the contemporary art journal X-TRA; and Kaelen Wilson-Goldie, an independent journalist and critic.

The selection process involves nominations followed by evaluation from an independent jury. This year’s jury comprised Irene Borger, founding director of the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts; Jaime DeSimone, chief curator at the Farnsworth Art Museum; and Legacy Russell, director and chief curator of The Kitchen in New York. Winners were chosen based on recent work samples and professional achievements.

Many of the awardees address critical themes such as politics, power, race, equity, and representation within the art world and broader society. Their work reflects ongoing cultural conversations and challenges prevailing narratives. Sarah Lewis, one of the recipients, highlighted the role of culture in societal transformation, emphasizing that legal changes alone are insufficient to overcome societal blind spots.

A series of interviews with the prize winners will be released online on September 16, providing further insight into their perspectives and contributions. The Rabkin Prize continues to spotlight the vital role of art writers in shaping cultural discourse and expanding public engagement with contemporary art.