The 2026 Mark Podwal Prize in Visual Art April 17 – June 25, 2026

The Dr. Bernard Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College in New York is honored to present an exhibition of the winners of The Elie Wiesel Foundation 2026 Mark Podwal Prize in Visual Art. This exhibition celebrates contemporary artists from across the United States whose work powerfully explores Jewish identity, memory, heritage, resilience, and human connection.

The winners were selected by a distinguished jury from a wide and diverse pool of submissions, and will be exhibited together with selected works by the renowned artist, author, filmmaker, and physician Mark Podwal. Together, they underscore the role of art in expressing both individual and collective narratives and themes central to Jewish life and culture.

The Mark Podwal Prize was established in collaboration with the Podwal family and inspired by the decades-long and deep creative partnership between Mark Podwal, one of America's most distinguished Jewish artists, and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. Their collaborative work gave powerful voice to Jewish history, faith, and hope.

Ariel Podwal, son of Mark Podwal, said "This award honors my father and his work with Elie and Marion Wiesel to celebrate Jewish life and confront antisemitism through word and image. Continuing that work with their son Elisha Wiesel and The Foundation carries our parents' shared legacy into the next generation."

LizAnn Eisen, Executive Director of The Elie Wiesel Foundation, said "The Mark Podwal Prize affirms that art carries both joy and responsibility. By honoring these artists, we celebrate Jewish creativity as a living force - one that invites us to remember, to embrace complexity, and to move forward with purpose and hope."

The 2026 Mark Podwal Prize Winners

• First Prize: Allison Zuckerman, "Even a Flood Could Not Wash Away the Flame"
• Second Prize: Joan Linder, "Titled"
• Third Prize: Maxwell Bauman, "Emergency Golem"

Honorable Mention: Joshua Meyer, "Eight Approaches"

Allison Zuckerman, first place winner, described the role of art in expressing Jewish resilience: "Through this work, I sought to give form to the enduring strength of Jewish communities - how we remember, rebuild, and find hope. Art allows us to speak to resilience in ways that words alone cannot."

Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Director of the Heller Museum, explained, "Mark Podwal's creativity encompassed the full scope of human emotion and Jewish experience - from witty celebration to tragic remembrance and mystical redemption. The Podwal Prize-winning artists are sustaining his legacy of transmitting Jewish heritage, enriching Jewish culture, and perpetuating memory for future generations."

About Mark Podwal

Mark Podwal uniquely excelled at the practice of art and medicine. From his 1960s anti-Vietnam War posters and his drawings appearing regularly on the New York Times Op-Ed page from the 1970s on, to the over 40 books he authored or illustrated and numerous exhibitions at major museums and memorials worldwide, Podwal offered powerful commentary on Jewish mysticism, history, the Holocaust, antisemitism, Israel and contemporary events. For forty years, he illustrated Elie Wiesel's books and designed the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Nobel laureate (1996). His artistic legacy is a source of inspiration for visual artists today and into the future.

About The Elie Wiesel Foundation

The Elie Wiesel Foundation was established in 1987 by Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and his wife Marion to promote memory, tolerance and equality through programs that inspire ethical reflection, youth development, and understanding. Guided by Wiesel's belief in moral responsibility and human dignity, the Foundation supports youth-focused initiatives such as the Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, champions human rights, and sponsors educational centers and cultural exchanges that promote acceptance, equality, and cross-community engagement. Today, the Foundation continues Elie Wiesel's legacy by cultivating moral leadership and empowering changemakers whose work reflects the enduring values of compassion, tolerance and shared humanity.

About the Heller Museum

The Dr. Bernard Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College in New York City is a dynamic university museum dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists of all backgrounds whose work explores Jewish identity, history, culture, and values. The Museum presents thoughtfully curated exhibitions that interpret core Jewish texts and traditions while engaging with pressing cultural, social, and historical themes - from communal justice and ritual innovation to broader human experience - inviting visitors to deepen their understanding of Jewish heritage through the visual arts. In addition to its compelling temporary shows, the Heller Museum serves as a resource for students and scholars, offers traveling exhibitions to venues across North America, and fosters dialogue about art's role in enriching both Jewish life and cross-cultural understanding.