Art League Houston Names 2026 Awardees: Jamal Cyrus, César Martínez, Surpik Angelini, Joe Diaz
Art League Houston (ALH) has revealed the winners of its 2026 awards. Jamal Cyrus has been named Texas Artist of the Year, while César Martínez is honored with the Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts award. Surpik Angelini receives the Lifetime Achievement in Arts Leadership award, and Joe Diaz is recognized as Texas Patron of the Year. An anonymous panel of Texas artists and art professionals selected the awardees. ALH's Executive Director, Jennie Ash, commended the honorees for their significant impact on Texas culture. Cyrus and Martínez will showcase solo exhibitions at ALH's Houston location from September 18 to December 20, 2026, with accompanying publications. A gala to celebrate all recipients is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
Key facts
- Jamal Cyrus named 2026 Texas Artist of the Year by Art League Houston.
- César Martínez receives 2026 Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts award.
- Surpik Angelini receives 2026 Lifetime Achievement in Arts Leadership award.
- Joe Diaz named 2026 Texas Patron of the Year.
- Awardees selected by anonymous panel of Texas artists and art professionals.
- Solo exhibitions for Cyrus and Martínez at ALH Houston from September 18 to December 20, 2026.
- Gala for all awardees on October 9, 2026.
- Cyrus is a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and 2020 David C. Driskell Prize recipient.
Entities
Artists
- Jamal Cyrus
- César Martínez
- Surpik Angelini
- Joe Diaz
- Jennie Ash
Institutions
- Art League Houston
- Blaffer Art Museum
- Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Menil Collection
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Museum of Modern Art
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- National Gallery of Art
- Transart Foundation for Art and Anthropology
- Otabenga Jones & Associates
- Con Safo
- Los Quemados
- Glasstire
Locations
- Houston
- Texas
- San Antonio
- Fort Worth
- Los Angeles
- United States