TIME 100 Arts List Draws Praise and Criticism as Pem Lham Wins Rubin Museum Prize
TIME magazine has unveiled its list of 100 influential figures in the arts, which includes Amy Sherald, who opted to cancel her exhibition at the Smithsonian due to concerns over censorship related to her depiction of a trans woman. The list also highlights Dayanita Singh, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, and speed painter Vanessa Horabuena. Billionaire Ken Griffin voiced his disapproval of Palestine protests on college campuses. The 2026 Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, worth $30,000, was awarded to Bhutanese artist Pem Lham. Additionally, Marina Adams has joined Peter Blum Gallery, while Allison Derusha has taken the role of executive director at Artadia. The Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum purchased Hendrick Avercamp's "Colf Players on the Ice" for $13 million, and The Met acquired 38 works by Chang Dai-chien. Johnny Depp's sculpture "The Bunnyman" is set to be displayed at Contemporary Istanbul.
Key facts
- Amy Sherald was named to TIME magazine's list of 100 influential people shaping the arts.
- Sherald canceled her Smithsonian Institution show over fears her painting of a trans woman would be censored.
- The TIME 100 list also includes Dayanita Singh, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Vanessa Horabuena, and Ken Griffin.
- Ken Griffin derided Palestine protests on college campuses.
- Pem Lham won the 2026 Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, a $30,000 annual award.
- The Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum jointly acquired Hendrick Avercamp's c. 1625 painting "Colf Players on the Ice" for $13 million.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired 38 paintings by Chang Dai-chien (Zhang Daqian) from Sing Sheng Chang.
- Johnny Depp's first sculpture, "The Bunnyman" (2026), will be shown at Contemporary Istanbul.
Entities
Artists
- Amy Sherald
- Dayanita Singh
- Tuan Andrew Nguyen
- Vanessa Horabuena
- Ken Griffin
- Pem Lham
- Marina Adams
- Allison Derusha
- Jenny Harris
- Sarah Paulsen
- Toni Dove
- Sougwen Chung
- Márcia Falcão
- David Reed
- Hendrick Avercamp
- Chang Dai-chien
- Zhang Daqian
- Sing Sheng Chang
- Johnny Depp
Institutions
- TIME
- Smithsonian Institution
- Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
- Peter Blum Gallery
- Artadia
- Pulitzer Arts Foundation
- Museum of the Moving Image
- MoMI LAB
- SCILICET
- Alexander Gray Associates
- Rodder gallery
- Pace Prints
- Brand X Editions
- Mauritshuis
- Rijksmuseum
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Sigg Art Foundation
- Contemporary Istanbul
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- Bhutan
- Thimphu
- St. Louis
- Netherlands
- Houston
- Istanbul
- Turkey