academy:square
Committed, innovative, original: young talent at art colleges has great potential.
A curated special exhibition of promising graduates from the art academies in Baden-Württemberg (Staatliche Akademie der Künste Karlsruhe, Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe and Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart) is intended to support these young talents as they enter the art market, make them visible and enable them to discover unseen positions.
In co-operation with Monopol and the LBBW, up to six artists or collectives have been selected from each of these universities to show their work at the fair.
Support from LBBW
LBBW has also been supporting academy:square since 2024. In 2026, LBBW will present its own art prize for the first time – the LBBW academy:square award – which consists of adding an outstanding work by an artist to the collection.
The future needs young talent – and young talent needs visibility.
With Academy Square, LBBW supports a platform for young artists from the region.
Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe
Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe
abk - Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart
Main sponsor of academy:square
transport partner
Laureate 2026: Shanee Roe and Galerie Kornfeld
The highlight of the fair opening was the presentation of the 18th art karlsruhe prize, which honours a gallerist and artist of a one:artist show in a double pack and was awarded for the first time during the opening.
Gallery owner Freddy Kornfeld and Tilman Treusch accepted the art karlsruhe Prize from Stefanie Patruno, Britta Wirtz, Arne Braun, State Secretary in the Ministry of Science and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg, and Dr Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe.
A total of 70 one:artist shows were nominated for this year's award.
The expert jury commented on the selection of the award winners as follows:
‘Shanee Roe is one of the distinctive voices in painting that understands the human body as a space for emotional and psychological experience. It was precisely this imagery, with its raw tone and exclusive focus on the emotional intensity of the present moment, that particularly impressed us as a jury,’ said jury spokesperson Stefanie Patruno, explaining the decision on behalf of the entire jury.
The Expert Jury 2026
- Elke Buhr, Chefredakteurin Monopol
- Sarah Haberkorn, Leiterin Sammlung LBBW
- Kristian Jarmuschek, Vorsitzender des Beirats der art karlsruhe