The EFG Latin America Art Award, in partnership with ArtNexus, has named Brazilian artist Cristiano Lenhardt as its nominee from SP-Arte 2026. Lenhardt, represented by Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel, was selected for his work *Lieoe* (2025), a mixed-media piece combining ceramic, embroidery, and cotton fabric dyed by floodwaters from the Guaíba River. The work responds to the environmental tragedy of the May 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, transforming trauma into a tactile, intuitive object. The nomination was made with input from Fernando Oliva, curator of MASP, and Celia Sredni de Birbragher, director of ArtNexus.
Now in its sixteenth year, the EFG Latin America Art Award supports Latin American artists by selecting nominees at major regional fairs—SP-Arte, Pinta Lima, BAphoto, ARTBO, and a fifth to be announced. The winner will be revealed at Pinta Miami during Art Basel Week, with EFG Capital acquiring a work for its permanent collection. This award matters because it amplifies visibility for Latin American contemporary art on a global stage, fosters cross-regional collecting, and directly supports artists responding to urgent social and environmental issues, as Lenhardt's work exemplifies.