An annual selection of emerging French contemporary artists. Attention given to what is being built today — quietly, patiently, freely.
There is, in contemporary French creation, a singular moment — when an artist has already found their voice without yet entering the marble of the great institutions.
These artists have an established practice. They are represented by recognised galleries, collaborate with luxury houses and the international press, and see their works enter serious collections. Yet they remain on the threshold of another form of recognition — the one that carries them from the art world to the wider public's gaze.
This is the gap the Gérard Foundation Prize chooses to bridge. Not by distinguishing a promising beginner, but by spotlighting a singular, already-formed voice — so that it may reach the audiences who do not yet know it.
We live in a time of visual saturation, where each image chases another, where attention spans are measured in seconds. Faced with this acceleration, these artists respond with the opposite gesture: taking time.
The time of matter, of prolonged gaze, of nuance. Slow painting, tactile sculpture, patient photography, installations that demand we stop. Far from the noise, they reintroduce a form of attention the era had forgotten.
They also question, each in their own way, the world they have inherited. Climate, identities, memory, bodies. But they do so without manifesto, without distance. Their tone is more porous, more embodied. They don't explain — they make visible.
The criteria
of selection.
Three readings, one shared gaze.
A held medium. A demanding, identifiable practice, already inscribed in a discipline. No scattering.
An emerging market. Gallery representation, documented sales, solo or group exhibitions. The work already circulates.
A singular voice. Something not seen elsewhere. A personal obstinacy that surpasses the fashion of the moment.
Editor's note
“French artists who, each in their own way, hold a singular voice against the noise of the world. These are the ones the Gérard Foundation has chosen for its 2026 edition.”
— The jury · Paris · May 2026
Rules
and eligibility.
Eligibility conditions
- —French national or resident in France
- —Maximum 40 years old at selection date
- —Documented professional practice (gallery, exhibitions, sales)
- —No direct applications: selection by editorial identification
Foundation commitments
- —A dedicated editorial page on the official site
- —Three curated social media publications
- —Inclusion in the annual printed retrospective
- —Access to the foundation's partner network
Artist commitments
- —Provide HD visuals and a professional portrait
- —Confirm agreement before publication
- —Reshare the foundation's publications on their accounts
- —Mention the selection in their communications during the year
Confidentiality and ownership
- —Works remain the exclusive property of the artist
- —No transfer of rights is required
- —Image use is limited to the Prize framework
- —Withdrawal is possible at any time upon request
Frequent
questions.
01Can one apply for the Prize?+
The Gérard Foundation Prize for Emerging Art proceeds by editorial identification, in the tradition of discovery prizes (Marcel Duchamp, Bourse Révélations Emerige). The editorial direction identifies artists during the year, through studio visits and field observation. No direct application is open for the 2026 edition.
02What endowment accompanies the selection?+
The 2026 edition is deliberately editorial and does not include a financial endowment. The Prize's value lies in the spotlight, media support and inscription in a lineage of artists supported by the foundation. Future editions will progressively integrate an endowment and an acquisition framework.
03How to suggest an artist to the editorial direction?+
Gallerists, curators, art school teachers, journalists: we are open to all reasoned recommendations. You can write to us at contact@gerardfoundation.org with a brief presentation of the artist's practice and representative visuals. We study each proposal.
04Will the 2027 edition be organized differently?+
Yes. Each edition will evolve the format. The 2027 edition will integrate an invited curator alongside the editorial direction, open a call for applications for part of the selection, and give rise to a public exhibition of the works. The exact nature of the 2027 format will be specified in autumn 2026.
05Is the Prize open to foreign artists living in France?+
Yes. The criterion is residence in France or French nationality. Foreign artists living long-term in France and inscribed in the French scene are eligible.
06How does the foundation finance this initiative?+
The Gérard Foundation is a non-profit organization. The Prize is fully financed by the foundation's own funds and by private patronage. No public subsidy is requested for the 2026 edition.
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support, write.
Applications for the second edition will open in winter 2026.
Apply