Art21’s spring lineup spotlights Tomás Saraceno, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and Camille Henrot, among others 

New York, New York—January 28, 2026—Art21 announces its 2026 season of programs, including documentary premieres, film screenings, artist conversations, and in-person events spotlighting the most impactful artists working today. Curated by Tina Kukielski, Susan Sollins Executive Director and Chief Curator, and Jurrell Lewis, Associate Curator, the spring lineup amplifies the voices of emerging and established artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Lenka Clayton, Camille Henrot, Ragnar Kjartansson, Josh Kline, Delcy Morelos, and Sin Wai Kin, among others. In 2026, Art21 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the acclaimed series Art in the Twenty-First Century, which first aired on PBS in 2001. The 12th season’s second episode will premiere on February 11 and will be free and accessible online at Art21.org, YouTube, and PBS. 

As the leading independent producer documenting contemporary art, Art21 was established with a mission to expand access to artists and their ideas, meet audiences where they are, and explore the salient connections between artists and their communities. To date, Art21 has created 80+ hours of films documenting more than 300 artists across six continents.

“From the beginning, Art21 has grown alongside the artists we work with, embracing new forms of media and experimenting with platforms that expand how audiences encounter art,” says Tina Kukielski, Susan Sollins Executive Director and Chief Curator. “At a moment when the real and the unreal increasingly blur, we look to artists to help us make sense of that complexity through their work and words. As documentarians, 2026 marks a significant milestone in this ongoing evolution. We are exploring new ways of thinking about art, unveiling an unprecedented volume of original content and educational programs, and releasing previously unseen archival material.”

Season 12 of Art in the Twenty-First Century continues

Episode 2 “Realms of the Real” premieres February 11, 2026.
Episode 3 “Human Nature” premieres June 10, 2026.
All films will be available at Art21.org and YouTube following their premieres. 

Watch the trailer for “Realms of the Real.” 

The four internationally acclaimed artists in “Realms of the Real” engage in extensive historical research, investigate the nuances of culture and identity, and explore the boundaries of art and science. Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Ragnar Kjartansson, Candice Lin, and Tomás Saraceno create worlds of fantasy and fiction that expand our understanding of ourselves and our world. This episode takes audiences from places like the botanical gardens at The Huntington in Los Angeles to the grounds of Berlin’s historic Gropius Bau museum, as the artists explain the ways in which they create their own expansive visions. 

Featuring Lenka Clayton, Josh Kline, Delcy Morelos, and Sin Wai Kin, “Human Nature” explores the concerns at the heart of what it means to be human: investigating our impact on the world around us, probing the social and economic systems that define our daily lives, and discovering how we relate to one another. Whether working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Seville, Spain, the four celebrated artists in this episode reflect critically and hopefully on the shared project of humanity.

New Film Releases Online

Ongoing throughout the spring
Art21.org and YouTube

IRL/url 

This series, produced in partnership with CHANEL Culture Fund, is Art21’s first series primarily designed for social platforms. The work and words of 8 artists—Neïl Beloufa, Jacky Connolly, Julien Creuzet, Sara Cwynar, Ho Tzu Nyen, Xin Liu, Rachel Rossin, and Jacolby Satterwhite—are showcased across a collection of 32 films, all of which can be explored on social media and art21.org/irlurl. 

Extended Play and New York Close Up

Art21 debuts short films year-round across online channels, offering timely, intimate portraits of individual artists and collectives in a concise format. Extended Play series films provide behind-the-scenes insights into the works and practices of leading artists, uncovering the provocative ideas, timely cultural influences, and personal experiences that inspire each artist. New York Close Up series films are devoted to capturing early-career artists living in New York City, offering a unique window into the next wave of artmaking in the city. 

Upcoming releases include:

Camille Henrot
Premiering April 22, 2026 

Camille Henrot’s body of work uniquely captures the speed, size, and complexity of contemporary visual culture. This film follows Henrot from a Paris foundry to her New York studio to the set of her latest film, which explores the evolving relationship between humans, animals, and the environment.

Jose de Jesus Rodriguez
Premiering June 27, 2026

Jose de Jesus Rodriguez uses large-scale acrylic paintings dense with themes of labor, Chicano identity, and connection to land and lineage. This film finds him in a moment of transition, experimenting with new materials and forms while building a sustainable practice and career.

Winter and Spring Public Programs

Visit Art21.org/calendar for complete schedule

“Realms of the Real” Premiere
Thursday, February 5th
SVA Theatre
New York, NY
Tickets

 

Screening & Artist talk with Hyeree Ro
Friday, March 27th
In partnership with Canal Projects
Canal Projects
New York, NY 

 

Artist Talk with Lenka Clayton
Tuesday, May 12th
Harris Theater
Pittsburgh, PA

 

Premiere of “Human Nature”
Thursday, May 28th
New York, NY

 

Screening Society
Ongoing 

In celebration of the first episode of Season 12 of Art in the Twenty-First Century, Screening Society continues. Any organization or community group—whether a school, university, library, museum, senior center, or beyond—is welcome to host a free public screening of “Between Worlds,” featuring the artists Sophie Calle, Lubaina Himid, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, and Dyani White Hawk. At no cost, Art21 provides hosts with materials and access to the films. Link to sign up here.

Special Events

Art21 Spring Gala
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Tribeca Rooftop
New York City

Over the past quarter-century, Art21 has become the leading catalogue of contemporary art history, capturing the voices and visions of artists defining our time. Honoring artists Charles Gaines and Paul Pfeiffer, the 2026 Spring Gala brings together the artists, collectors, filmmakers, gallerists, patrons, and luminaries who make this work possible, celebrating a shared commitment to contemporary art and education. 

Funds raised will ensure the continued production of films, digital resources, and public programs. All of which aim to bring more artists to more audiences worldwide.

IRL/url Celebration
January 22, 2026
Roxy Cinema
New York City

Attendees celebrated Art21’s new IRL/url series, presented by CHANEL Culture Fund. Yana Peel, President of Arts, Culture & Heritage at CHANEL, gave opening remarks. Tina Kukielski then moderated a panel with 7 out of 8 of the series’ featured artists, continuing an essential conversation about the overlap between physical and digital worlds. This increasingly hybridized landscape remains at the heart of the IRL/url series. 

“What resonates most deeply” about the series, said Peel, “is that it’s profoundly human, and there’s a focus on and respect for human creativity” in all of the films. 

Art21 Educators

Visit art21.org/calendar for complete schedule

What is Heartbreak in Art?
Saturday, February 14th
In partnership with SFMOMA
Virtual program
Register

Art21 Teacher Appreciation Event: “Realms of the Real” Premiere
Wednesday, February 25th
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn, NY
Register

Applications for the 2026-27 Art21 Educators cohort, an intensive, year-long professional development initiative and learning community, are now open! Apply here.

 

Download high-resolution images.

 

About Art21

Art21 documents the art of our time through the words and works of the most impactful artists working today. Operating at the nexus of contemporary art and film, Art21 produces intimate portraits of artists at crucial moments of creation, inviting audiences to see the world from an artist’s perspective. From its award-winning public television series to in-person public programs, education initiatives, and film screenings, to broadcasting documentary films free, online, and across social media platforms, the independent nonprofit is dedicated to meeting audiences where they are and to making contemporary art accessible to all. For more information, visit Art21.org.

 

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Media Contacts
Hannah DeGarmo
Associate Director of Communications

hannah@art21.org