Panama August 7, 2026. The Ministry of Culture brought to light the winners of the XLIV National Visual Arts Competition Roberto Lewis 2026 and of the National Emerging Artists Competition 2026, two competitions that recognize artistic excellence and promote the development of visual arts in Panama.

The decision was issued on 4 August, during the day of deliberation at the Galería Museo de Ciudad de las Artes, where international jurors evaluated the works participating in the different categories of both contest, with representatives from the Ministry of Culture and the Notaria Tercera del Circuito de Panama, which attested the process.

At the XLIV National Visual Arts Competition Roberto Lewis 2026, the highest recognition was awarded to elsy Acosta, a winner in the category of Painting with the play "The Dream," presented under the pseudonym "Nube," Gladys Sevillano, who earned the prize in Sculpture with the play Mente, under the pseudonym "GURU," and Bolívar Sánchez, a winner in Photography with the play "They turn their back but they did not volunteer." The unique prizes were 7.000 for Photography and B / 10.000.00 for Painting and Sculpture.

The jury decided to declare the category of Inclusive Art as deserted, as a result of low participation at this edition of the contest.

The Roberto Lewis Contest was evaluated by an international jury composed of curator and researcher Isabel Olga Szucks (Argentina), artist and researcher Vanessa Acosta Ramirez (Colombia) and visual artist Francisco Javier López González "Pancho López" (Mexico), who valued the proposals with criteria established at the bases of the contest.

The National contest of Emerging Artists 2026 recognised the talent of four Panamanian creators who emphasized the quality and originality of their proposals. In the category of painting was awarded Lisbeth Rodriguez, by the work Still Curious, Still Possible, presented under the pseudonym "La Zarigüeya" and in Sculpture, the winner was Hugo González, with Sol de Lluvia, and in Photography, Eduardo Molino Diez, with the work Roots On the Sea, presented under the pseudonym "RFM10" and in Collage Creative, Jonathan Parenzo with Reza, with an Animal.

The Jury of the National Emerging Artists Competition was composed by Antonio Valdés Bosch, Manuel Emilio Montilla and Fernando Antonio Bocanegra, who select the winning works considering criteria of artistic quality, creativity, originality and conceptual soundness.

With the first edition of the National Emerging Artists Competition (EMERGE) we have opened up new opportunities for young creators to share their talent and start building their artistic trajectory.
Together with the Roberto Lewis National Visual Arts Competition, we are currently dedicated 56 million pat to prizes, a sign of the commitment of the national government, led by President José Raúl Mulino, with the strengthening of visual arts and support for Panamanian talent, because investing in our artists is an investment in the cultural heritage and the future of the country, "emphasized the Minister of Culture, María Eugenia Herrera.

With more than four decades of history, the Roberto Lewis National Visual Arts Competition remains an important recognition of artistic creation in Panama, while the National Emerging Artists Competition continues to promote the development of new generations of creators, strengthening the landscape of the visual arts of the country.

The official award of both events will be held on November 18, at the Aurea "Baby" Torrijos