Artists Lisa Freeman and Adam Frew have been announced as the winners of the Golden Fleece Award 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the award.
The Golden Fleece Award is the largest prize open to artists and makers in Ireland.
This year, a total fund of €40,000 is being shared, with two main awards of €10,000, two once‑off merit awards of €5,000, and the remaining funds distributed equally among shortlisted artists, with each receiving €2,500.
The Trustees of the Golden Fleece Award and its specialist Advisory Panel confirmed Lisa Freeman as the Visual Art winner and Adam Frew as the Craft and Applied Art winner.
Both artists were selected from a shortlist of eight, drawn from 241 applications.
Speaking about the 2026 awards, Chair of the Advisory Panel and Director of Temple Bar Gallery + Studios Clíodhna Shaffrey said: "In keeping with her vision, eight artists – four in Craft and Applied Arts and four in Visual Arts – will receive the Golden Fleece this year."
She added that the winners "represent exciting contemporary practices across a fantastic range of media - ceramic, glass, textile, metalwork, film, sculpture, materiality and painting.".
The Visual Art category also included merit awardee Conor McFeely, with shortlisted artists Róisín O'Sullivan and Marielle MacLeman.
In Craft and Applied Art, Róisín Pierce received a merit award, with Emma Bourke and Pierce Healy shortlisted.
The Golden Fleece Award was established in 2001 through a bequest from Dublin‑born artist, weaver and educator Lillias Mitchell.
In her Letter of Wishes, she stated: "It has always been my wish that those with talent be encouraged to develop their talents, particularly in Ireland… My wish is to give artists a 'boost' in times of particular need."
Find out more about the Golden Fleece Awards 2026 here
