ars viva 2026

Junge Visionen

Since 1953, Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft, a consortium of German businesses, has awarded the annual ars viva prize for visual arts to outstanding young artists living in Germany. Over the decades, the award has turned the spotlight on over 350 artists; past winners have included Rosemarie Trockel, Candida Höfer, Wolfgang Tillmans, Georg Baselitz, Omer Fast, Cemile Sahin, and Sung Tieu. 

The winners of the 2026 ars viva prize are Nazanin Noori (b. 1991), Ryan Cullen (b. 1992), and Prateek Vijan (b. 1991). Nazanin Noori is an interdisciplinary artist whose oeuvre spans sound and installation art, stage and audio play directing, and writing. In a process in which painting and sculpture intersect, Ryan Cullen creates images that reflect Western society’s penchant for self-destruction. Prateek Vijan’s sculptures, installations, and films revolve around the indiscriminate claims to ownership lodged by colonial powers and their entrenchment in society. 

The book introduces readers to the three award-winning artists’ oeuvres. With contributions by Nikita Dhawan, Bitsy Knox, Nora O Murchú, and Skye Arundhati Thom.