2026 shortlisted artists for the Jean-François Prat Prize

15th edition of the Jean-François Prat Contemporary Art Prize – 25 June 2026
Shortlisted artists: Julien Heintz, Hippolyte Hentgen, Sojourner Truth Parsons

Looking for something in painting that has not already been (completely) expressed involves addressing the question of originality and singularity. In the 15 years since the first Jean- François Prat Prize, this concept has enabled the presentation of 45 perspectives of artists who question their own pictorial practices or the society and world in which they live. 45 geographies, 45 ways of thinking.

Julien HEINTZ’s portraits stand out from the current profusion in this genre for their singularity, as they draw attention to nameless soldiers or prisoners whom we do not necessarily register beyond their roles as oppressors or oppressed, but who are, above all, people, human beings. Working on the basis of historical archive films, the artist deliberately blurs and smooths the faces so that they are almost indistinguishable, prompting us to look at them much more closely, to give them due attention and to question the actions committed by these individuals.

Breathing new life into images worn out by overproduction, the duo HIPPOLYTE HENTGEN offer a joyful, yet not naïve, approach based on a somewhat “Dadaist” feminism that speaks its mind by scattering small pebbles (hands, feet, hair, eyes, in particular) and utilise every visual form at their disposal. The gravity of a particularly distressing era finds a counterpoint here that merits a pause as we consider their iconoclastic perspectives, which, if not unseemly, are certainly unconventional.

Another singularity, Sojourner Truth PARSONS’ painting focuses on depicting women’s bodies, flora, fauna and the city, using forms that incorporate and transcend American Colorfield painting, which they at first bring to mind. It is precisely in the interstices of the blocks of colour, the geometry and the “all-over” style that the affective and emotional dimensions regarding the women, places and things she seeks to depict come to the fore.

The jury will be chaired on 25 June 2026 by Chiara PARISI, executive director of the CentrePompidou – Metz, with contributions from the artists’ supporting curators: Rose VIDAL, Guitemie MALDONADO and Alexandra McINTOSH.

The name of the winning artist will be announced at the preview opening night of the exhibition on 25 June 2026 at 8 pm at the Bredin Prat Foundation (53 quai d’Orsay, 75007 Paris). Read more