Art Innovation Symposium 2026

ISEA has a wonderful, fun-filled symposium planned for art inspiration, friendship, and educational enjoyment. About This December, ISEA invites artists and art lovers to gather for something new in Arizona. For the first time, the International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) will host its annual INNOVATIONS Exhibition and Symposium in the state. From December 2 to 5, 2026, artists from across the United States and around the world will convene at the Tubac Center of the Arts for four days centered on experimentation, dialogue, and creative risk. The juried exhibition will remain on view through early January. Tubac offers a fitting setting for ISEA’s international community. Located 22 miles from the Mexican border, the town reflects a blend of Southwest United States and northern Mexican culture. Its longstanding identity as an artist destination makes it a natural host for a gathering devoted to experimentation. Arizona artist and committee member Kat Manton-Jones has experienced firsthand how ISEA supports artistic growth. As a recipient of an ISEA scholarship, she offset expenses for an artist residency in Urubamba, Peru. Later, as an invited speaker, she shared her artistic vision and process. “Each of these opportunities required introspection. It led me to focus on the type of work I create the evolution of my art over the past few years, and the ability to articulate it to others.” INNOVATIONS 2026 moves beyond a traditional exhibition. Throughout the week, learning unfolds through workshops, panel discussions, and shared reflection. Workshop educators Carolyn King, Catherine Nash, and Lyndy Runyon will lead hands on sessions focused on material, surface, and form. Panelists for Variations in Artists’ Processes: From Inspiration through Design and Creation include Barbara Jo Borch, Vera Gates, Nath Raye, and April Rimpo, who will discuss how experimentation continues to shape and evolve their work. Held alongside the exhibition and culminating in a Public Awards Reception and presentation by juror Ash Dahlke, the symposium offers participants an opportunity to step outside routine and return to their practice with renewed perspective. Looking ahead to December 2026, Manton-Jones hopes the experience resonates beyond the gallery. “I hope that artists, students, and community members find a sense of awe in the exhibition and growth in their creative journey.” Registration for the December 2026 ISEA Symposium opens March 1, 2026. The exhibition call for entries opens June 1, 2026. It is open to anyone 18 and older, and artists do not need to be ISEA members to submit work. Full details about deadlines and registration can be found at www.iseaartexhibit.org/Symposium2026 Read more Toggle Drawing Sculpture Digital Mixed media Painting Multi-disciplinary Photography