Semifinalists for the 2026 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize will display their work in an exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture.
On view from May 21 through June 21, the exhibition will feature pieces from 16 of the 18 semifinalists. The show will span a variety of artistic mediums, including oil on canvas, archival prints, video narratives, 3D sculptures, and multimedia installations. The Lewis Museum is located at 830 E. Pratt St.
“For the first time, Artscape and Create Baltimore are officially partnering with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum,” said Tia Goodson, Chief Marketing and Programs Officer at Create Baltimore, in a statement. “This collaboration expands the festival’s footprint while situating the semifinalists’ work within one of the region’s most respected cultural institutions. Together, this shift reinforces Artscape’s commitment to access, discovery, and elevating a broad spectrum of artistic voices.”
The exhibition at the Lewis Museum will feature works by most of the artists who were named semifinalists, including Sarina Angell, Mollye Bendell, Anna “Divina” Divinagracia, Elliot Doughtie, Emily Francisco, Chung-Wei Huang, Tae Hwang, Mo Kessler, Michelle Shengyu Li, Noah McWilliams, Emily Hanako Momohara, David Page, Kristin Putchinski, Edgar Reyes, Joana Stillwell, Pamela J. Thompson.
Noël Kassewitz and Daniela Mileykovsky, who were also among the semifinalists, will not be showing work in the exhibition at the Lewis Museum.
An opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 21 will kick off the exhibition. The reception is free to attend and open to the public, but guests are asked to RSVP here.
There will be light refreshments as well as opportunities to talk with the artists and preview the exhibition before it officially opens at Artscape.
In April, Create Baltimore announced the five finalists for this year’s Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize. They include Thea Canlas, Leigh Davis, Brandon Donahue-Shipp, Curran Hatleberg, and Danni O’Brien.
The finalists will exhibit their work in a separate show in the Hackerman House at the Walters Art Museum from June 25 through Sept. 13.
One of the art world’s most prestigious accolades, the Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize has been awarded annually since 2006 and is currently in its 21st year.
The winner of this year’s prize will receive $30,000. They will be announced at the Walters museum in August.
