The Joan Mitchell Fellowship for Visual Artists is a national award that provides unrestricted financial support to painters and sculptors at critical junctures in their careers. Administered by the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the fellowship honors the legacy of the abstract expressionist painter by championing the sustained development of artists who demonstrate exceptional artistic merit and a commitment to their practice. The 2026 cycle continues this tradition, offering a substantial stipend that allows artists to focus on their work without the constraints of project-specific funding. Unlike many residencies or grants, the fellowship does not require a proposal for a particular project; instead, it recognizes the artist's overall body of work and potential for future growth. The selection process is highly competitive and conducted by a panel of distinguished artists and curators, ensuring that the evaluation is grounded in a deep understanding of contemporary visual practice. The fellowship is open to artists at various career stages, from emerging to established, who are working in painting or sculpture and are citizens or legal residents of the United States. The foundation's curatorial vision is to support artists whose work reflects a rigorous engagement with the medium, whether through traditional approaches or experimental expansions of the field. The fellowship provides not only financial freedom but also validation and visibility within the broader art community. By removing the burden of fundraising, the Joan Mitchell Fellowship enables artists to take risks, deepen their investigations, and contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape.