Curator Anne-Laure Lemaitre Grades 2026 Art

New York-based curator Anne-Laure Lemaitre gives the 2026 art world a report card grade of B-minus. She made the assessment in an interview for HypeArt's 'State of Art' series, citing a transitional phase filled with both exciting emulation and growing pains.

Lemaitre specializes in large-scale, in-situ projects and consults for clients including Fortune 500 companies. Her work focuses on how art can respond to and transform its surrounding space.

Standout Exhibitions Beyond the Gallery

Two exhibitions from the first half of 2026 left a strong impression on Lemaitre for their use of vacant spaces. The first was The Gallery's WeWork (oralmoral), an evolving group show curated by Florian Meisenberg in an empty Brooklyn office. It featured site-responsive works by artists including Cato Ouyang, Craig Jun Lee, Kyle Clairmont Jacques, Shaina Tabak, Brian Oakes, Anna K.E., Fin Simonetti, and Pol Morton. The show also provided free daily co-working space for artists alongside extensive programming.

The second was Six Artists. Six Floors. Six Solo Exhibitions., a project by Gladwell Projects that took over six floors of a building in Jersey City. It presented solo shows by Chunghee Yunm, Vamba Bility, Lisu Vega, Trevor Warren, Purvai Rai, and Chiffon Thomas, whom Lemaitre cites as a personal favorite. She expressed awe at what organizer Christina Ine-Kimba Boyle achieved independently, noting the show's quality rivaled that of major institutions.

Lemaitre found both projects impressive in scale and vision. They utilized vacant spaces to present rigorous, fresh curatorial work in an art world many believe is in crisis.

Impactful Art and Future Hopes

The artwork 'Amphibian Palm' by Lesley-Anne Cao deeply affected Lemaitre this year. The piece features a series of 'books' in water tanks, with pages flipping randomly underwater. Lemaitre describes it as visually striking, haunting, and conceptual, yet mesmerizing and emotional. She first saw a version in the Philippines and later an iteration in Mexico City at THIRD BORN earlier in the summer of 2026.

When asked about trends she wants to see change, Lemaitre stated a desire for fewer analyses of the art world's state dominating conversations. Instead, she wants more concrete, direct support for artist-led endeavors finding new ways to connect with the public.

Personal Curiosities and Final Thoughts

If she could share a meal with any artist, living or dead, Lemaitre's answer changes frequently. Recent choices have included Öyvind Fahlström, Derek Jarman, Ana Mendieta, Artemisia Gentileschi, Hélio Oiticica, and Nam June Paik. Among living artists, she named David Hammons, Rossella Biscotti, Emeka Ogboh, and Francis Alÿs as potential dinner guests.

Summing up the current art world in three words, Lemaitre called it 'changing, exciting, challenging.' She concluded the interview by reiterating her hope for more direct support for new artistic endeavors navigating the current context.