Emirati Artist Farah Al Qasimi Receives Art Basel 2026 Emerging Artist Medal

Emirati artist Farah Al Qasimi has been named one of the 33 medallists in the Emerging Artist category of the prestigious 2026 Art Basel Awards. The announcement highlights her growing influence on the global stage and cements her status as one of the United Arab Emirates' most internationally visible contemporary artists.

The Art Basel Awards span nine distinct categories, aiming to recognize key figures across the contemporary art ecosystem, including artists, curators, institutions, patrons, and cultural platforms. This year's cohort of medallists was selected by a nine-member international jury. Notably, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, president and director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, served as a juror for the second cycle of the awards.

Born in Abu Dhabi, Al Qasimi is celebrated for her work that explores everyday life, domestic spaces, and consumer culture within the Gulf region. Her practice, which spans photography and film, is characterized by vivid, carefully composed images that oscillate between documentary observation and surreal detail. Her projects have been exhibited internationally, ranging from New York to London.

Her recognition comes on the heels of significant achievements. Last year, a selection of her photographs was displayed free to the public at the Tate Modern in London. In 2021, she contributed to the UAE National Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, creating large-scale photographs of the sabkha landscape.

Furthermore, Al Qasimi is one of six artists selected to represent the National Pavilion UAE at the upcoming 2026 Venice Biennale with the exhibition Washwasha.

The 2026 Emerging Artist category also includes Aziza Kadyri, Carla Gueye, Diego Marcon, Precious Okoyomon, and Tiffany Sia. Other notable medallists include Barbara Kruger, Howardena Pindell, and Jenny Holzer in the Icon Artist category, and established figures such as Julie Mehretu and Theaster Gates in the Established Artist category. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Biennale Foundation was honored in the Museum and Institution category.

The medallists will be formally honored during the flagship Art Basel fair in June. Later in the year, Gold Awardees will be selected and announced during Art Basel Miami Beach in December. The Gold Awards in the artist categories are set to provide over $250,000 annually in flexible support, distributed through honorariums, philanthropic contributions, and public commissions.

Al Qasimi's inclusion in this list underscores the rising prominence of Gulf-based artists in the international art scene and marks a significant milestone in her distinguished career.