BE OPEN Art, an online gallery set up by Elena Baturina’s humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN, continues to run BE OPEN Regional Art for the fourth year in 2026. The regional competition for emerging artists aims to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities, for the third year now.
For the purpose, the BE OPEN expert community selects those artists who best represent the artistic tradition of a certain region to feature in the BE OPEN Art gallery and offer them greater visibility. Thus, artworks by 20 new emerging artists appear in the online gallery every month, and a public vote selects the Regional Artist of the Month. At the end of the stage, one of the monthly winners gets the title of the Artist of the Region and a grant based on the amount of votes by the public and the BE OPEN art community members.
From January to April 2026, the competition explored art of Northeastern Africa, featuring artists from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt and Madagascar.
The title of the Artist of the Region and the €500 grant goes to Aissa Joud is a Moroccan artist from Ouarzazate, a city renowned as Morocco’s “Little Hollywood” for its cinematic landscapes and historic architecture. Rooted in the rich visual and cultural heritage of his hometown, Aissa’s work reflects a dialogue between history, environment, and contemporary life. He began his artistic journey selling works to local tourists, an early encouragement that led him to pursue formal arts education.
The honourary mentions in the region are Reem Aljeally, Sayda Shukri, and Eyerusalem Adugna Jirenga.
Reem Aljeally, a visual artist and curator from Sudan, is known for her captivating works that blend painting, installation, and printmaking, often centered on the portrayal of young women alongside symbolic motifs like plants and cats. Her background in architecture deeply informs her practice, where she engages with ideas of movement, memory, and the emotional resonance of spaces.
Sayda Shukri is a young self-taught artist from Sudan whose work celebrates the richness of Sudanese cultural heritage. Drawing on the country’s long tradition of visual art shaped by indigenous crafts, calligraphic influences, and contemporary artistic expression, her paintings explore themes of identity, community, and everyday life.
Eyerusalem Adugna Jirenga is an Ethiopian artist and fashion designer based in Addis Ababa, whose practice bridges design and photography. Drawing on her background in fashion, she creates vivid, carefully composed portraits that document living histories through rich textures and striking color.
The Regional Winner receives a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform. Through the Regional Art competition, BE OPEN Art continues its mission to support emerging artists worldwide, fostering artistic innovation, cross-cultural dialogue, and the preservation of regional identities through contemporary art.
In 2026, BE OPEN Regional Art will proceed with the competition in Central Europe and East Asia.