October 2026.— Following their triumphant presence in the Spanish capital, the works selected for the Tartget Prize 2026 are opening a new chapter. While a selection of pieces begins the journey back to the ateliers of their creators across diverse corners of the world, others have established their definitive home after being acquired by private collectors.
Among the latter, notable works include those by international artists such as Sylvianne Blum, Snezhana Botenovskaya (Nia), Nahee Kim, and Ana María Martínez Berzosa, alongside a dozen creators who have captivated new collectors in this market. This post-exhibition circulation of works embodies the founding vision of the Tartget Prize: serving as a living, tangible bridge between creators, collectors, and global art circuits.
Resounding Success at the Official Gala in the Cátedra Mayor
On September 18, Madrid once again became the epicenter of international painterly creation with the grand gala of the second edition of the Tartget Prize. The iconic Cátedra Mayor of the Ateneo de Madrid, nestled in the very heart of the Paisaje de la Luz (Landscape of Light), saw a full house to host an event spanning roughly two hours.
The ceremony, presented by Isidro López de Toro, stood out for its meticulously crafted staging that brought together diverse artistic disciplines through performances by the Daimiel Dance Group, bailaora Marina Suárez, and pianist María Reguillos. Directed and coordinated by Ismael Terriza and produced by José Luis Sánchez Montañez, the gala brought together cultural figures and artists who traveled from four continents (Australia, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, and Belgium), alongside a prominent Spanish contingent.
Anatomy of a Global Edition: 2,100 Creators from 85 Countries
The 2026 call broke cultural diversity records, gathering 2,100 participants from 85 nations. From this vast creative spectrum, the works that cleared the rigorous selection process to earn a spot in the coveted Top 100 — and physically journeyed to Madrid — represented 30 countries:
- Spain led participation, accounting for 29% of the artistic entries.
- France (9%), the United States (8%), and Italy (6%) headed the international contingent.
- Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, Canada, and Switzerland enjoyed a strong presence.
- Romania and Bulgaria contributed an especially noteworthy showing.
Indeed, the Top 100 selection garnered significant media attention in Bulgaria, celebrating the achievement of Lyubena Fox, regarded as one of the country’s most promising young artists with soaring international projection.
Seven Days of Art at the Heart of the "Paisaje de la Luz"
The Top 100 works were on view starting the very evening of the gala in the exhibition staged at the Ateneo de Madrid. Located just steps from the Golden Triangle of Art (Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofía), the show welcomed nearly 1,400 visitors in just one week.
This strategic venue reflects the core spirit of the Tartget Prize: bridging contemporary artistic movements with the great landmarks of art history, fostering direct dialogue among transcontinental creators, critics, gallerists, and the broader public.
Award Winners and Notable Figures of the Competition
The jury for this edition awarded a total of €90,000 in prizes and honors across a multidisciplinary spectrum:
- 🥇 Gold Tartget & Drawing Tartget: Bestowed upon Madrid artist Julián Maroto for his luminous works Adela and Lord y Serena.
- 🥈 Silver Tartget: Conferred upon French creator Anthony J. Moreau.
- 🥉 Bronze Tartget: Awarded to Belgian artist Jenka Barakina, who offered one of the evening’s most poignant moments through a video message recorded high in the Himalayas. Her piece also achieved third place as one of the most acclaimed works in the figurative category.
- 🎨 Watercolor & Landscape Distinctions: French artist Alexis Le Borgne achieved a double triumph by claiming both the Watercolor Tartget and the award for Best Natural Landscape.
- 💥 Fusion Tartget: Awarded to Seville artist Amador Sevilla (Dos Hermanas) for an innovative collage chosen among more than 500 submissions.
Special Mentions of the Edition:
- Best Abstract: Michael Schmeja (Australia)
- Best Fantasy & Imagination: Jaq Grantford (Australia)
- Best Still Life: Ekaterina Gasmi (Germany)
- Best Portrait & Figurative: Maribel Manzanares (Spain)
- Best Animal & Wildlife: Richard García (Spain)
- Best Urban Landscape: Haitz de Diego (Spain)
- Best Collage / Conceptual: Snezhana Botenovskaya (Belarus)
- Best Young Painter: Muyang Dai (China)
- Acquisition Awards (Madrija, Pavalco Reale Seguros, and Bodegas Fontana): Cristóbal León (Spain), Adrián Marmolejo (Spain), Arthur Burda (Germany), and Agustín Pontesta (Spain)
- Special Tartget Prize Award: Agnieszka Kotarska (Poland)
From Madrid to the World: Connections with Mexico, Hong Kong, and Venice
The institutional reach of the competition continues unabated. The Tartget Prize broadens its global footprint, cultivating ties of cultural exchange with Mexico and Hong Kong.
At the same time, its standing within the European watercolor sphere grows stronger: the prize maintains an active collaborative presence in the 4th edition of Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival, held at the historic Palazzo dei Trecento (Treviso, Italy). Two founders of the Tartget Prize, Juan Francisco Gómez-Cambronero and Ismael Terriza, serve on the official jury of the Venetian festival.
A Pioneering Art Residency in Las Tablas de Daimiel
Transcending the boundaries of conventional awards, one of this year’s most innovative initiatives was the inaugural Tartget Prize Art Residency. Spanning a 12-day creative immersion in the Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park — a sanctuary historically celebrated as the “Oasis of La Mancha” — this program expands the horizons of patronage, reshaping the prize into an experience of co-creation in intimate dialogue with the landscape, its biodiversity, and the land itself.
As the works of the 2026 edition set forth toward their new destinations, the organization is already hard at work shaping upcoming international partnerships and drafting the guidelines for its anticipated 2027 call for entries.
