LaGuardia Art Professor Dahlia Elsayed Receives 2026 Inaugural State of the Art Prize From Creative Capital for Artists
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (January 29, 2026) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY Professor and Program Director of the Fine Arts Program Dahlia Elsayed was awarded the inaugural State of the Art Prize by Creative Capital, the nonprofit organization dedicated to championing artistic freedom of expression by supporting individual artists across the United States.
On January 9, Creative Capital announced the presentation of $2.9 million in grants to 109 artists residing in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Since its founding in 1999, Creative Capital has provided $55 million in grants and services to 1,119 artists across the country.
Professor Elsayed, who was selected as the artist in New Jersey, is among the 53 artists who were awarded a $10,000 unrestricted grant for the first time in Creative Capital’s 25-year history.
“I’m thrilled to have my work recognized by Creative Capital, an organization with an incredible history of supporting artists, visionary projects and freedom of expression,” said Professor Elsayed. “It was such a joy to get the email that I had been selected!”
Professor Elsayed, along with Art Professor Arianne Fernandez were lead advisors on the installation of the street mural, “Keep it Movin,” installed during the summer of 2025 on the LaGuardia Community Greenway on 29th Street.
Professor Elsayed said her new project will involve different media.
“The project I will be working on is an installation made of artist made textiles and rugs based on nomadic architecture of the SWANA region, and has a soundtrack by artist Andrew Demirjian,” she said. “The grant will help support research and production of the project in 2026-27.”
In a press announcement Christine Kuan, President & Executive Director, Creative Capital, said Creative Capital remains unwavering in its mission to support individual artists creating new work as a powerful catalyst for freedom of thought and freedom of expression in our democracy.
“In this moment of urgent and widespread need for arts funding, generous supporters have helped Creative Capital expand our open call, national grant program to serve innovative artists in all 50 states,” Kuan said. “This will be the first year Creative Capital is supporting artists in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.”
Professor Elsayed and other selected artists receiving the 2026 Creative Capital Award and 2026 State of the Art Prize were selected from a pool of 4,546 applications from all 50 states and regions in the United States via a democratic, national open call. Project proposals were evaluated through an external review process that included 107 industry leaders, programmers, cultural producers, and artists, and culminated in discipline-specific final panels.
The nonprofit also presented the 2026 Creative Capital Award, renowned for its recognition of original, ambitious project proposals for new artistic ideas, which will support the creation of 49 new works in visual arts, film, dance, theater, music/jazz, and literature, as well as technology, multidisciplinary, and socially engaged forms in all disciplines.
The Creative Capital Award supports the creation of risk-taking, groundbreaking new works by providing the awarded artist up to $50,000 in unrestricted project funding, plus professional development services and community-building opportunities.
• • • •
LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
####