Winsor & Newton and Paul Smith’s Foundation International Art Prize 2026 Winners Announced

The third edition of the International Art Prize, sponsored by Winsor & Newton and the Paul Smith Foundation, has selected three emerging artists: Bliss Coulthard from London, Jackie Liu from New York, and Axel Jonsson from Paris. Each artist is awarded a £1,000 grant along with £1,000 worth of materials to create new pieces inspired by the theme 'Making an Impression', which will be showcased at Paul Smith stores in their cities. The prize focuses on ongoing support rather than a one-time award, offering mentoring, professional development workshops on budgeting, SEO, and networking, as well as access to a global alumni network. The judging panel includes Katy Wickremesinghe (London), Sergio Pardo López (New York), and Hugo Vitrani (Paris). Coulthard explores femininity and memory through watercolours; Liu, a disabled Chinese-American artist, portrays joy as a form of resistance; Jonsson creates figurative oil paintings influenced by history and mythology. Exhibitions in New York (25 September) and Paris (29 October) will feature public discussions in collaboration with ArtReview. Established in 2020, Paul Smith’s Foundation aims to enhance business skills in fashion, visual arts, and design, building on Smith’s 30-year partnership with the Royal Academy Schools and a collection exceeding 10,000 works.