Sergio Pardo López

We’re thrilled to introduce the judges for the International Art Prize 2026, presented by Paul Smith’s Foundation x Winsor & Newton, in partnership with ArtReview.   Hugo Vitrani (@hugovitrani ) is a curator at the Palais de Tokyo, where he has led an extensive roster of internationally acclaimed exhibitions. His curatorial work spans institutions, biennials and cross-disciplinary projects, with collaborations ranging from Art Spectrum 2026 to the Lyon Biennale and Rencontres d’Arles. Hugo is also an art critic and member of the scientific committee for the Chaire Street ART(s) at the École normale supérieure – PSL.   Katy Wickremesinghe (@misskatywick ) is the Founder & CEO of The Wick & KTW, a leading consultancy and content hub connecting art, business and culture. A champion of accessibility and cultural equity, she works with global brands, institutions and collectors, while serving as a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Dulwich Picture Gallery. Katy is a recognised leader in business and arts impact across the UK.   Sergio Pardo López (@sergiopardolopez ) is a cultural strategist, arts administrator, architect and curator, currently serving as Director of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. He oversees the city’s flagship Percent for Art Program, stewarding a major public art collection and more than 150 active projects. With experience spanning creative placemaking, cultural policy and international biennials, Sergio brings a multidisciplinary vision to this year’s panel. This year’s theme is ‘Making an Impression’, an invitation for artists to explore mark‑making, memory, identity and impact through drawing or painting.   This free‑to‑enter open call runs simultaneously across London, New York and Paris. Winners receive a bursary, £1000 of Winsor & Newton materials, mentoring opportunities, introductions to global industry leaders, and the chance to exhibit and sell their work in a Paul Smith shop.   Enter now via the link in our bio.

When artists, young people, and city partners come together with intention, public art can do something powerful. It can create space for dignity, for imagination, for possibility. Proud of the team making this happen. @loughneyart @nyculture @nycacs @nycddc #PercentForArt #PercentForArtNYC #PublicArt

🔮 Grab your crystal ball and gaze into the future of public art with us! We closed out 2025 on a crescendo, and 2026 is striking a powerful opening chord! Swipe to see how, through our #PercentForArtNYC program, artists are bringing permanent public art to schools, libraries, streetscapes, and other civic spaces across the five boroughs, contributing to a more vibrant and livable NYC. In 2026, expect new commissions, new voices, and even more art woven into the city’s rhythm. #NYCulture #PublicArt #NYC @nyculture

24 years separate these two images. 
One was taken when I was 17, volunteering every week in a refugee camp on the Slovenian border. The other, just a few days ago, as I received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. They are connected by a simple conviction that has guided me ever since: culture is not decoration, it is a force for dignity, for memory, for community. That early experience showed me the transformative power of culture, and it set me on a path I am still walking today. This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to the people and institutions who have supported me, to my loved ones, my friends, my colleagues, and above all, the artists and creators with whom I’ve had the privilege to work. My work is only possible because of their courage, their creativity, and their generosity. I accept this honour with gratitude, and with the hope of continuing to build spaces where culture can help us imagine, care, and act — together. 📷 1: left to right, Laurie Cumbo (NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner), me, Mrs. Marta de Blas (Consul General), Mr. Pedro Calvo Sotelo (Cultural Consul) 📷 2: Me in 2001 at the refugee camp in Kozina, Slovenia @uwcespana @uwcadriatic @frdelpino @the_fulbright_program @fulbright_spain @spaincultureny @nyusteinhardt

Last week we installed Borinquen Gallo’s @borinquengallo Percent for Art commission, (UN)COMMON GROUNDS. The work approaches the boundary as a site of reflection, weaving communities together and reminding us that we all belong to a shared space. This project runs in parallel with my own path at DCLA. Borinquen was selected during my very first week, nine years ago, and to see the work finally realized now feels deeply meaningful. Public art is never the product of one voice alone. It begins with an artist’s vision, but it comes to life through a constellation of people, sensitivities, and commitments. It carries the responsibility of shaping the shared spaces of the city with care, openness, and inclusion. With much resilience and persistence, Borinquen has carried one of her most ambitious projects through years of rethinking and redesign. Located at the edge of a new Bronx precinct, the work reconsiders the fence not as a line of separation but as a threshold for dialogue, interruption, and possibility. Through its reflective steel surfaces and woven forms, (UN)COMMON GROUNDS opens a space where boundaries can be questioned and collective connections imagined. This milestone has only been possible thanks to the dedication of many: the Public Art team at NYC Cultural Affairs, DDC Public Art, NYPD, B.I.G. Architects, and Bilgo Bufkin, who helped transform a complex idea into a tangible reality. Enhorabuena Borinquen for this remarkable achievement and for creating a work that reminds us of the care it takes to build community in the spaces we all shared. @nyculture @nycddc @nypd @milgobufkin @big_builds #percentforartnyc #nycpercentforart #percentforart

Manifesta 15: One Year On One year ago, on September 8, 2024, Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana —the largest edition in the biennial’s history— opened across the region for 12 weeks, activating 16 venues with artworks by 92 creators, and welcoming over 291,000 visitors. But its influence didn’t stop there: the legacy of Manifesta endures, not only in the territory and the synergies it sparked, but also through its excellent publications, which document and preserve this transformative edition: 1️⃣ Barcelona: Beyond the Walls
Frames the theoretical, geographical, and methodological context, exploring the pre-biennial research and the decentralised approach of Manifesta 15. 2️⃣ Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana: Catalogue
Delves into the artistic projects and urban interventions, showing how they act as catalysts for the urgently needed socio-ecological transition. 3️⃣ Fora per fer escola: Radical practices from Catalan pedagogies
A vital document from the Education team, highlighting Catalonia’s rich pedagogical heritage and innovative artistic research. Kudos to the education team, and to all the artists, educators, and collaborators who made this possible. These publications are more than books—they’re tools to foster dialogue, expand knowledge, and ensure Manifesta’s ideas continue to resonate long into the future. @manifestabiennial

Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana has come to a close 
I’m immensely proud to have been the First Creative Mediator of this historic edition—the most expansive in the biennial’s history, spanning 12 cities and featuring the work of 92 incredible participants. In times of uncertainty and upheaval, this biennial challenged us to imagine new ways of being by fostering dialogue between local communities and global cultural producers. Together, we explored decentralization and eco-social transformation, asking: how can art reshape the way we address the urgent challenges of our time? This was not just an exhibition but a collective effort, made possible by an extraordinary team. My deepest gratitude goes to Tatiana Tarragó, Fernando Paniagua, Emilia van Lynden, Jordi Ferreiro, Yana Klichuk, Diana Jové, and Belén Giménez. A special thank you to Filipa Oliveira, Second Creative Mediator, for her professionalism and generosity. To Josep Bohigas and Ángela Molina, your guidance and support meant the world. This edition has been a testament to the potential of art to ignite conversations and reimagine futures. Let this be the beginning of more shared efforts toward a world rooted in collaboration and care. 📷 1: Speak to the Earth and it will tell you, by Jeremy Deller 2: Prehension  by Asad Raza 3: Escola de Passats, Installation by German Labrador Mendez 4: Recordaremos aquello que aprendisteis by Anaïs Florin 5: Para construir un jardín necesitamos un trozo de tierra y la eternidad by Enrique Ramírez 6: Black Archives, Fragments of an anticolonial metrópolis Installation view by Tania Safura Adam. 7: Sleep Remains by Bea Bonafini 8: Memory of the Smoke. Eco-social conflicts in sacrifice zones 9: When women strike the world stops by Claire Fontaine 10: Parliament of Trees by Elmo Vermijs 11: Urchins by CHOI+SHINE Architects 12: Detention by Larry Achiampong Photos 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11 @M15 by Ivan Erofeev Photos 5,12 @M15 by Helena Roig Photo 13 @M15 by Arnau Rovira

As part of the the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Percent for Art Program, we honored the visionaries who championed the inclusion of art in our urban landscape four decades ago. Figures like Doris C. Freedman, Ronay Menschel, Jenny Dixon, Randal Bourscheidt, and many others paved the way for the vibrant cultural tapestry we enjoy today. Through collaborative efforts led by dedicated program directors and supported by passionate teams, we’ve witnessed the creation of 450 public art pieces, with over 100 more in progress. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and collaboration of city agencies, the support of the Public Design Commission, and the countless design teams shaping our city’s artistic legacy. But above all, we owe gratitude to the true heroes of this story: the artists. Over four decades, 435 artists have generously shared their talents to reimagine our past, enrich our environments, and ignite civic pride and economic growth.   These artworks serve as integral threads in the memory and the fabric of our city, inspiring current and future generations to question the way see, think, listen, and behave. #percentforartnyc #nycpercentforart #percentforart 📸: @nyculture

Celebrating 40 years of the Percent for Art Program! As we reflect on this milestone, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in commemorating this special occasion. Your presence, whether in person or in spirit, made our 40th Anniversary celebration truly unforgettable. Here’s to the next chapter of creativity, collaboration, and community building. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey! Special shoutout to the Public Art Team, MOSPCE and Gracie Mansion. @graciemansionconservancy @nyculture 📸: @mattlap #percentforartnyc #nycpercentforart #percentforart

Repost @nyculture Exciting news!! The design for the new monument honoring Shirley Chisholm was unanimously approved by the Public Design Commission (@nycpublicdesign ) early this week! 🎉 Designed by artists Amanda Williams (@awstudioart ) and Olalekan B. Jeyifous (@kidcadaver ) through our #PercentforArtNYC program, the 32-foot-tall sculpture of Chisholm, the first permanent public artwork in Brooklyn dedicated to a historical woman, will be installed at the southeast entrance of Prospect Park! “This trailblazing woman was not diminutive and this monument reflects how Chisholm’s collaborative ideals were larger than herself,” said the artists in a statement. The design includes imagery of Chisholm with the US Capitol dome, honoring her political career as the first Black woman to be elected to Congress and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. With this approval received, the artists will refine their design as we work toward building a public artwork that reflects Shirley Chisholm's monumental accomplishments on behalf of her community. And this is just the start. The monument is a part of New York City’s She Built NYC program, which seeks to commission permanent, public artwork that honors women’s contributions to New York City, something which is critically under-represented in our city's public monuments. “This administration is committed to working to tell a more complete story surrounding the trailblazing women who have shaped our city, and we are ready to get more of these projects back underway,” said @cmlauriecumbo . Kudos to the artists, all stakeholders and the current and past staff of @nyculture for their support: @tomfinkelpearl @gonzalocasals @kendalhenry @goodguyryry @davidcmandel @reina__shibata @noeljoan_ #shirleychisholm #monument #brooklyn #nyc #nyculture #publicart 📷: Courtesy of the Artists, Olalekan B. Jeyifous and Amanda Williams

"A good place to land" // WA . Image description: Eye-level view of Ruby Beach, northernmost of the southern beaches in the coastal section of Olympic National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. The image was taken in a bright but cloudy cold day. The foreground shows plenty of driftwood, exposed due to the low tide. In the middle-ground there are several sea stacks and a couple walking away. On the right side a section of the coast frames the picture with several pine trees. . @olympic_nps @nationalparkservice @nationalparks_guide #rubybeach #olympicnationalpark

2022 // Is uncertainty our only certainty? . Among all those uncertainties experienced, the year that is ending also left new professional challenges, personal excitements, and collaborations to remember. . In 2021 I had the opportunity to return to Venice, as an expert for the Spanish Pavilion. A special occasion in which I coincided with Manuel Blanco, dear friend and the person who gave me the opportunity to work in Venice 15 years ago, and especially with Joan Margarit, a relative who left us at the beginning of the year. . The Spanish exhibition entitled “Uncertainty” aimed to explore life without certainty, testing its limits and expanding our realities to make them dynamic and adaptable. It visualizes a future in which uncertainty becomes a strategy of design and a tool to transform our social models and processes, dethroning individualism to make way for coexistence. . So, Is uncertainty our only certainty? . Here is to a future with more “certainty” for all of us. Happy 2022!