National Academy of Design Awards $125,000 to Six Public Mural Projects
The National Academy of Design has announced the six recipients of the 2026 Abbey Mural Prize, with a total of $125,000 in grants awarded. The projects span across California, Delaware, Michigan, New York, and Colorado. A jury that featured Paul Broches and Everardo Jefferson made the final decisions. In Oakland, Daniel Galvez and Keith Sklar will be revitalizing the Grand Performance Mural. In Wilmington, Aaron Douglas will restore a Haitian mural that was damaged by fire. New York will see the preservation of José Clemente Orozco's murals at The New School and Tomie Arai's "Wall of Respect." Mount Pleasant will introduce a new mural celebrating Anishinaabe culture, while Oscar Olivares in Denver will create "Transcend," a mosaic from reclaimed materials.
Key facts
- The Abbey Mural Prize 2026 awarded $125,000 to six public art projects.
- Grants range from $10,000 to $30,000.
- Projects are located in California, Delaware, Michigan, New York, and Colorado.
- The jury included Paul Broches, Everardo Jefferson, Ken Smith, Kyle Staver, and Don Voisine.
- The Grand Performance Mural in Oakland, by Daniel Galvez and Keith Sklar (1984), will be restored.
- Aaron Douglas's Haitian mural in Wilmington, Delaware, will be restored after smoke damage.
- Orozco's mural cycle at The New School will receive long-term conservation.
- Tomie Arai's 1977 Chinatown mural will be revived by the W.O.W. Project and Chung Pak.
- A new Anishinaabe mural will be created in the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Library children's area.
- Denver's 'Transcend' mosaic by Oscar Olivares will use reclaimed plastic bottle caps.
- The Abbey Mural Prize was established in 1932 and has been administered by the National Academy of Design since 1940.
Entities
Artists
- José Clemente Orozco
- Daniel Galvez
- Keith Sklar
- Aaron Douglas
- Tomie Arai
- Oscar Olivares
- Calvin Simmons
- Mary Watkins
- John Santos
- Judy Grahn
- Edwin Austin Abbey
- Walter Goens
- Grace Goens
Institutions
- National Academy of Design
- University of Delaware Art Conservation Department
- The New School
- Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Library
- Elevate for Change
- Auraria Campus
- W.O.W. Project
- Chung Pak
- Fua Dia Kongo
Locations
- Oakland
- California
- Wilmington
- Delaware
- Mount Pleasant
- Michigan
- New York
- New York City
- Denver
- Colorado
- Lake Merritt
- Grand Lake Theater
- Oakland's LGBTQ Cultural District
- Saturday Farmers Market
- Eastside Wilmington
- Chinatown
- United States