HERALBONY Art Prize 2026 Exhibition Opens in Tokyo, Celebrating Extraordinary Creativity from Around the World
- May 28
- 3 min read
A major international exhibition spotlighting artists with disabilities from across the globe will open in Tokyo this spring, following the announcement of the winners of the “HERALBONY Art Prize 2026 Exhibition Presented by 東京建物｜Brillia.”
Organized by HERALBONY Co., Ltd., the international art award ceremony took place on May 27, 2026 at Palace Hotel Tokyo, bringing together artists, families, curators, and cultural figures from around the world. The exhibition itself will officially open to the public from May 30 at the Earth Garden space on the first floor of the SMBC East Tower in Otemachi, Tokyo.
This year’s Grand Prize was awarded to Dutch-based artist Kar Hang Mui for the work Zonder titel (Untitled), selected from an impressive total of 2,943 submissions by 1,342 artists representing 77 countries and regions worldwide.
The Grand Prize recipient will receive a prize of ¥3 million to support future creative activities, along with an artist contract with HERALBONY, enabling broader international exposure through various licensing and collaborative opportunities.
In addition to the Grand Prize, four artists received Jury Special Awards selected independently by each juror, while nine artists were honored with Corporate Awards presented by major Japanese corporations. The awarded works are expected to be incorporated into future services, products, or business initiatives by participating companies, reinforcing HERALBONY’s vision of creating “an award with real opportunities beyond recognition.”
The Corporate Awards were presented by organizations including Tokyo Tatemono | Brillia, SMBC Group, Nishimura & Asahi, JINS, Epson, Sangetsu, Kai Corporation, JR East, and Toyota Motor Corporation.
The Jury Special Awards highlighted diverse artistic perspectives from Japan, Colombia, Germany, and the United States, emphasizing the global scope and inclusivity of the award platform.
During the ceremony, Hiromi Kurosawa, Chief Artistic Officer of HERALBONY and one of the jurors, reflected on the significance of this year’s submissions and the organization’s ongoing mission under the statement “Beyond Labels.”
She emphasized that the artists should not simply be grouped under the broad category of “disability art,” but instead recognized first and foremost as individual creators with distinct identities, lives, and artistic voices.
“The creators are not defined by labels,” she stated. “Each artist has their own name, existence, and story. We hope society can move beyond simplified categories and focus on the individuality and humanity of every creator.”
The award ceremony welcomed a total of 34 artists from Japan and overseas.
The exhibition, opening May 30, will present all 62 selected finalist and award-winning works, including the Grand Prize-winning piece, within one of Tokyo’s largest gallery-scale public art spaces.
Top Left:二瓶 智仁（日本）《Deep into the Night〜サラダボウル〜》（2025） / 西村あさひ 賞
Top Right: 今村 聖（日本）《ぼくの食べた料理たち》（2024） / SMBCグループ 賞
Down Left:時永 蒼生（日本）《20210425》（2021） / 東京建物｜Brillia 賞
Down Right: KIYO（日本）《希望》（2025） / JR東日本 賞
Exhibition Information
HERALBONY Art Prize 2026 Exhibition Presented by 東京建物｜Brillia
Dates: May 30 – June 27, 2026
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
Venue: Earth Garden, SMBC East Tower 1F(1-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Free
Curated by Hiromi Kurosawa (HERALBONY CAO)
Special Exhibition Website:https://artprize.heralbony.jp/https://artprize.heralbony.jp/en/
Founded under the mission “Radiate Uniqueness,” HERALBONY continues to challenge perceptions surrounding disability and creativity through art, licensing, cultural initiatives, and international collaborations. Since September 2024, the company has also expanded internationally through HERALBONY EUROPE in Paris.
