Visa d’or humanitaire CICR | Reiffers Initiatives Mentorship | Myma Art Prize | BRICK AWARD | Art Basel | Frieze Seoul

photography

Khames Alrefi

Visa d’or humanitaire du CICR

The Visa d’or humanitaire du CICR 2026 was awarded to the Palestinian photojournalist Khames Alrefi. Produced between January 2025 and May 2026, his photo reportage entitled Civilians: The First Victims documents the daily lives of the most vulnerable communities. "Receiving the prize is a tremendous honour and a recognition I did not expect, especially as this is my first international award. I am deeply moved that my photographs have reached an audience beyond Gaza and bear witness to the reality experienced by the people of Gaza — their suffering, their resilience in the face of adversity and their humanity," says Khames Alrefi.

Image: A child is hiding behind a damaged cart in the port area of Gaza City, after a house was targeted.
© Khames Alrefi

art

Thomas Houseago and Théo Mercier

Reiffers Initiatives Mentorship

Thomas Houseago will be the new Reiffers Initiatives mentor for 2026. A British artist based in Los Angeles, Thomas Houseago is one of the most important sculptors of our time. He will accompany French artist Théo Mercier, who develops an inventive and daring practice that challenges established narratives surrounding history, objects, and representation. The outcome of their discussions and this intergenerational dialogue will result in a joint exhibition, which is set to open in October 2026 during Art Basel Paris.

Images: Théo Mercier, Deaf Stone, 2025. 32 x 28 x 92(h) cm. Photo: Erwan Fichou.
Exhibition view, Thomas Houseago, Banca March, Madrid, 2026. Courtesy of Banca March.

art

Omolola Coker

Myma Art Prize

Nigerian artist Omolola Coker has been named the inaugural winner of the Myma Art Prize, a new initiative to provide long-term and sustainable support for the practice of early to mid-career artists from Ghana and Nigeria. Born in London and based in Lagos, Coker uses the batik fabric painting technique for her figurative practice exploring themes such as heritage and home. Work by the four finalists spanning painting, photography, sculpture and installation is featured in a group exhibition titled What is Given curated by Ugonna Ibe-Ejiogu at Yenwa Gallery in Lagos on view through 4 July.

Image: Omolola Coker, Be Fruitful, 2026. Courtesy the artist.

architecture

Dạo Mẫu Museum & Temple

Grand Prize

Dạo Mẫu Museum & Temple in Vietnam, which was built using six million up-cycled clay tiles salvaged from 500 houses in the local area, was selected as the Grand Prize winner of the BRICK AWARD 26. Designed by ARB Architects in collaboration with folk artist Xuân Hinh, the temple and museum was conceived as a space rooted in local customs and vernacular architecture. The team also sought to minimise disruption to the landscape, preserving a 50-year-old orchard at the centre of the site.

Image: ARB Architects, Dạo Mẫu (Mothergoddess) Museum & Temple, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2023.
© Trieu Chien

art

Paula Cooper Gallery

Art Basel Gallery Legacy Award

Paula Cooper Gallery in New York is the winner of the first Art Basel Gallery Legacy Award. As part of the prize format, Cooper has nominated a next-generation gallery, the New York dealership Chapter NY, which will now receive a participation costs for Art Basel next year. Chapter NY, founded in 2013, represents artists such as Jesse Darling and Rene Matić. Cooper opened her gallery in SoHo in New York in 1968 with a politically charged exhibition benefiting the Student Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. At Booth B17 at Art Basel, the gallery presents Lighthouse Flag Provincetown by Claes Oldenburg (1960). This work is part of the inaugural Basel Exclusive program and is exhibited alongside related works depicting the U.S. flag from the early 1960s.

Image: Claes Oldenburg, Lighthouse Flag Provincetown, 1960. Courtesy of Paula Cooper Gallery.

art

Yagwang

Frieze Seoul Artist Award

Seoul-based artist collective Yagwang has been named as the winner of the 2026 Frieze Seoul Artist Award. Supported by Bvlgari for the fourth consecutive year, the award spotlights and supports Korea’s talents at a pivotal stage in their careers. Formed by artists Terri Kim and In Jeon, Yagwang works across sculpture, video, installation and performance, addressing gender, human rights and labour, and their connection with subcultures, queerness and identity.

Image: Yagwang, Raw Proof, 2024. Courtesy the artists.