Phoenix Art Museum has announced the opening of its annual call for submissions for the 2026 Sally and Richard Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards. This program offers recognition and $10,000 in financial support to emerging professional artists based in Arizona. Artists who are not selected for the Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards will be automatically considered for the Sette/Cohn Artist Award, which provides a $5,000 prize to an emerging Arizona artist chosen from the same application pool.
The open call is held in partnership with Artlink, a Phoenix-based arts organization that has worked with the museum on similar initiatives for nearly ten years. Submissions are accepted from March 1 through April 27, 2026. There is no fee to apply. Up to two recipients of the Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards and one recipient of the Sette/Cohn Artist Award will be notified during the week of September 21, 2026. The selected artists’ work will be exhibited at Phoenix Art Museum in summer 2027.
“Investing in and supporting artists who live and work in Arizona remains at the heart of the mission of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “We are immensely thankful to our donors who allow us to enact on that commitment with their support of the artists’ prizes. Not only does their generosity support the work and lives of local artists, but also creating greater awareness more broadly of the incredible work Arizona artists are creating in our state, enabling the Museum to display these remarkable, compelling works to our Arizona community and beyond.”
The Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards encourage contemporary art by supporting emerging artists working in Arizona through grants and annual exhibitions. Each year, two awardees are selected by a jury led by Christian Ramírez, Cohn Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art and Director of Engagement at Phoenix Art Museum. The jury includes curators, artists, and visual-arts experts from inside and outside Arizona. In addition to receiving $10,000 each, awardees receive lifetime museum membership and an invitation to present their work in a group exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum.
Artists not chosen for these awards remain eligible for consideration for the Sette/Cohn Artist Award—a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening community partnerships through annual recognition programs at Phoenix Art Museum. Named after Lisa Sette—an advocate who has supported Arizona-based artists for over four decades—and Lee and Mike Cohn—longtime supporters who provided initial funding for education initiatives—the award continues efforts to recognize local talent.
Eligibility criteria require applicants to have at least four years of professional experience or recent exhibition history within Arizona; returning artists after a hiatus may also apply. Applicants must have lived in Arizona for at least one year prior to applying and must register as an Artlink “Articipant.” Applications should include personal details, resume or CV, artist statement (up to 300 words), six images or video samples produced within three years (with descriptions), all submitted online by April 27 at 5:00 p.m. MST.
Phoenix Art Museum was established in 1959 and operates as the largest art institution in the southwestern United States. It welcomes hundreds of thousands annually through its exhibitions featuring more than 20,000 objects representing diverse cultures and periods from around the world. The museum’s mission includes promoting inclusivity by welcoming visitors of all abilities while offering programs designed to engage communities across backgrounds (source). For over sixty years it has provided learning experiences that aim “to ignite imaginations” (source).
The Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards continue a legacy started by Contemporary Forum—which granted over 180 awards before ending its program in 2017—while honoring ongoing donor commitments from Sally and Richard Lehmann since rebranding began in April 2021.
For more information about eligibility requirements or how to submit applications online visit phxart.org or contact curatorial@phxart.org.
