David Hammons (b. 1943, USA)

A reclusive conceptual artist known for his profound commentary on race, identity, and power structures through unconventional materials and public installations.

Lubaina Himid (b. 1954, Zanzibar)

A British Black Arts pioneer reshaping the canon, and representing the UK at the 2026 Venice Biennale.

Joan Jonas (b. 1936, USA)

A seminal figure in performance and video art, Jonas's work explores themes of gender, identity, and mythology.

Adrian Piper (b. 1948, USA)

A legendary first-generation Conceptual artist challenging race, identity, and power with fearless intellect.

Betye Saar (b. 1926, USA)

An influential artist known for her assemblage works that confront racial stereotypes and explore African American identity.

Cecilia Vicuña (b. 1948, Chile)

A poet and multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges Indigenous wisdom, environmental activism, and contemporary sculpture.

Nairy Baghramian (b. 1971, Iran)

A sculptor recognized for her abstract forms that engage with architecture, the body, and notions of functionality.

Tony Cokes (b. 1956, USA)

A trailblazing media artist and 2024 MacArthur Fellow, whose works reframe cultural histories through distinctive visual and sonic means.

Cao Fei (b. 1978, China)

An artist whose groundbreaking work in video, virtual reality, and installation probes the contradictions of the new digital reality.

Ibrahim Mahama (b. 1987, Ghana)

Known for monumental installations addressing histories of labor and migration, utilizing materials like jute sacks to comment on global trade and economic systems.

Delcy Morelos (b. 1967, Colombia)

An artist distinguished for her immersive earthworks that connect traditional knowledge with contemporary material practice.

Ho Tzu Nyen (b. 1976, Singapore)

An artist whose multimedia installations delve into Southeast Asian history, mythology, and philosophy.

Mohammad Alfaraj (b. 1993, Saudi Arabia)

A multidisciplinary artist whose work encompasses video, photography, and installation, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the environment.

Meriem Bennani (b. 1988, Morocco)

An artist remixing digital culture, postcolonial critique, and absurdist wit through video and sculpture practice.

Pan Daijing (b. 1991, China)

A sound visionary building raw, immersive worlds across performance and choreography.

Saodat Ismailova (b. 1981, Uzbekistan)

An artist and filmmaker whose evocative films revive the spiritual memory of Central Asia, focusing on women's experiences and cultural heritage.

Lydia Ourahmane (b. 1992, Algeria)

An artist whose conceptual practice addresses themes of displacement, surveillance, and the metaphysical, often drawing from personal and collective histories.

Sofia Salazar Rosales (b. 1996, Ecuador)

An emerging artist whose practice explores themes of identity, migration, and the interplay between personal and collective narratives.

Formafantasma (Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin) (b. 1983 & 1980, Italy)

An Italian design duo captivating the world's leading brands with radical investigations in design thought, focusing on sustainability and material culture.

Saidiya Hartman (b. 1961, USA)

A literary scholar and cultural theorist whose work reshapes narratives of Black life and history, blending archival research with critical theory.

Grace Wales Bonner (b. 1990, UK)

Fashion's rising star fusing style, literature, and diasporic storytelling, exploring the aesthetics of the African diaspora through her eponymous label.

Shane Akeroyd (b. 1960, UK)

A philanthropist and art patron known for his support of contemporary art initiatives and emerging artists globally.

Maja Hoffmann (b. 1956, Switzerland)

Founder of the LUMA Foundation, she has been instrumental in promoting experimental art practices and sustainable cultural development.

Joel Wachs (b. 1939, USA)

President of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, recognized for his leadership in supporting artists and preserving artistic legacies.

ART + PRACTICE (Founded 2014, USA)

A Los Angeles-based nonprofit offering arts education and exhibition space, focusing on supporting foster youth and contemporary artists.

Jameel Arts Centre (Established 2018, UAE)

A contemporary art institution in Dubai that fosters artistic exchange and showcases diverse practices from the Middle East and beyond.

RAW Material Company (Founded 2008, Senegal)

Dakar's experimental art incubator and think tank, established by the late, visionary museum leader, curator, and Art Basel Awards Juror Koyo Kouoh.

Candice Hopkins (b. 1977, Canada)

A trailblazing Carcross/Tagish First Nation curator advancing the art historical narrative through Indigenous leadership and vision.

Shanay Jhaveri (b. 1985, India)

A curator whose work focuses on postcolonial narratives and the promotion of South Asian contemporary art within global contexts.

Eungie Joo (b. 1969, USA)

An American curator known for her commitment to social justice and for organizing exhibitions that highlight underrepresented artists and communities.

Negar Azimi (b. 1974, Iran)

Editor-in-chief of Bidoun, a magazine dedicated to Middle Eastern art and culture, known for its critical and nuanced perspectives.

Barbara Casavecchia (b. 1966, Italy)

A writer and curator whose work explores contemporary art, with a focus on feminist and queer theory, and the intersection of art and ecology.

The Journal of Curatorial Studies (Established 2012, Canada)

An academic publication that advances critical discourse in curatorial practice and theory, fostering scholarly engagement with exhibition-making.

Art Handlxrs* (Founded 2017, USA)

A Bay Area-based support network for Queer, nonbinary, trans people, BIPOC, and womxn working behind the scenes in contemporary art.

Gasworks / Triangle Network (Established 1994, UK)

A London-based organization supporting emerging artists through residencies and exhibitions, with a global network fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Sandra Terdjman (b. 1979, France)

Co-founder of KADIST and AFIELD, she is recognized for her contributions to production, collaboration, and artistic infrastructure.