Vinicius Libardoni, representing Brazil and Italy, has won The Art Circle Award 2026. He was named winner of the award’s sixth edition at a ceremony at Alserkal Avenue on 11 November, for his work Traces of Loss (2026). The award is supported by Alserkal.
The winning work
Libardoni works where printmaking, architecture and sculpture meet, turning traces of forgotten and demolished structures into what the organisers call poetic visual narratives. Traces of Loss looks at the relationship between memory, architectural heritage and the passage of time, and asks viewers to reflect on loss, memory and the lasting presence of the built environment.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to see The Art Circle Award grow over the years, welcoming an ever more diverse and inspiring range of artists, perspectives and creative voices. This diversity is what makes each edition so special,” said Barbara Farahnick-Mathonet, Founder and President of The Art Circle.
Kevin Jones, artistic director of Alserkal and a member of this year’s jury, said: “These awards are a reminder of the importance of investing in artistic practices and taking a long view on supporting practitioners’ development. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing how a careful approach to patronage can foster evolution in artistic practices.”
Mending while the breaking goes on
This edition’s theme was “on mending… when the breaking is still happening”. Rather than treat mending as complete restoration or an erasure of damage, it asked how art can acknowledge fractures and keep creating. Artists were invited to interpret mending through personal and political, intimate and collective experiences, and to consider what it means to mend a city, a body, a community or a planet while the breaking continues.
The award gives artists based in the UAE a platform to meet curators, cultural leaders and art institutions. The open call closed on 10 September and was free to enter for UAE nationals and residents aged 18 and over. It accepted paintings and mixed-media works, excluding digital techniques, measuring between 40 and 80 cm per side. The Art Circle, founded in 2018 by Farahnick-Mathonet, is a UAE-based cultural platform that supports artists across the MENASA region.
For more art this month, see our preview of Alserkal Art Week, from 15 to 22 November, and read our story on the Farmers Market at Alserkal Avenue.
The Art Circle Award 2026: Details
- When: Ceremony held on 11 November 2026
- Where: Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
- What: Sixth edition of The Art Circle Award, won by Vinicius Libardoni for Traces of Loss (2026)
- More: theartcircle.ae/award
Image: courtesy of The Art Circle.