New York – November 06, 2026 -- AXA XL awarded the $10,000 first prize of the 2026 AXA Art Prize US to Rumi Agarwal of Pratt Institute, chosen from nearly 600 submissions from 132 institutions nationwide.
Cleveland Institute of Art's Ashton Burton wins $5,000 second prize
Agarwal won for "The Night Wears Prussian Blue." Ashton Burton of the Cleveland Institute of Art took second prize for "Threaded Roots."
Three honorable mentions went to Chelsea Harris of Cranbrook Academy of Art ("En Route"), Kelly Micca of the New York Academy of Art ("Death Valley") and Noah Volk of the University of North Carolina Asheville ("Telophase").
Jury of three artists and one AXA XL underwriting chief selects winners
The jury included artists Ann Craven, Amy Cutler and Kiki Smith, alongside Jennifer Schipf, AXA XL's Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Fine Art & Specie. Jurors assessed artistic excellence, originality, technical skill and creative vision. Schipf described the finalists' work as "technically accomplished, but deeply thoughtful, ambitious and emotionally resonant."
Exhibition at New York Academy of Art runs October 29 through November 19
The winners were announced alongside the 2026 AXA Art Prize US Exhibition, which features work by this year's finalists. Curators are Laura Hoptman of The Drawing Center, Christopher Y. Lew of C/O: Curatorial Office, independent curator Monique Long, and Jasmine Wahi, co-founder of Project for Empty Space.
AXA XL links the prize to its fine art insurance business
Matt O'Malley, Chief Client & Distribution Officer, Americas, said the prize gives young artists visibility at a pivotal point in their careers. The competition has run for nearly a decade, connecting entrants with curators, collectors, galleries and cultural institutions.
AXA XL says it complements the program with its fine art insurance expertise. The AXA Group has supported cultural institutions and heritage preservation for more than four decades, including a long-running partnership with the Louvre.