Art Festival Newsletter | January 2026

State of the Art Festival Artist Survey


The Art-Linx annual State of the Art Festival Artist Survey has been conducted for the past 15 years and has become an important resource for understanding what professional artists across the country are experiencing, considering, and needing as our industry continues to evolve.

 

We encourage you to share this survey with your artist friends and colleagues. Broad participation helps ensure the results reflect a truly national perspective and strengthens its value to the artist community.

 

Thank you for taking the time to participate and for helping us support artists nationwide.


It takes 5 minutes and is completely anonymous.

What's In and What's Out 2026

To create this list Art-Linx has researched the trends discussed in home design, fashion and art.  


Trends are not assignments. They are signals. They point toward what collectors are responding to emotionally and visually, not what you must change about your work.


If your work already aligns with these ideas, lean into it. If it does not, that does not mean you are behind. Strong work leads trends more often than it follows them.


January is not about reinventing yourself. It is about noticing where your instincts already match what is resonating and trusting that direction.

Bold gold, Art Deco motifs, extra-long tassels, colored gemstones


Style editors are seeing renewed interest in decisive forms and statement jewelry.

Ultra delicate, nature motif pieces


Sculptural, fluid forms and mixed metals


Modernized pearls and personalized pieces


Forecasts emphasize wearable sculpture over fine detail fragility.


Storytelling and individuality

Hard angulation and dainty pendants


One-note, predictable classics

Maximalist tailoring and big statement accents — especially brooches and oversized gems

Social platforms and fashion reports see a swing toward bold expression.

Safe basics and tiny accessories

Icy blues and cool saturated accents

Pinterest trend data shows rising interest in cool tones and expressive color stories.

All warm minimal palettes 

Glamoratti maximalism with mix of heritage and futuristic pieces

Fashion watchers see a resurgence of opulence with modern layering.

Understated minimalism 

Cloud Dancer and calming, versatile neutrals

Pantone’s 2026 pick is about quiet power rather than loud saturation.

Overly bright “color of the year” explosions

Fog blue, burgundy, and glossy black in nails and accents

Beauty reporting highlights several specific on-trend color directions.

Pastel and washed out hues

Wrap: What This Really Means for Artists

These In and Out signals are not rules — they are directional cues from social conversation and expert reporting across magazines, social platforms, and major outlets. The strongest trends for 2026 share a few key themes:


Design with emotional resonance not sterile perfection

Texture, material authenticity, and craft over machine uniformity

Bold, confident personal expression rather than safe defaults


Use these trends to inform your creative choices. Trends become meaningful when they intersect with your authentic voice and your audience’s interests.


Wishing everyone a year filled with creativity and inspiration. 

Join Us in Texas for the Art Festival Directors Conference April 16–17

followed by the award-winning Lubbock Arts Festival, April 18–19


This spring, gather with fellow art-festival directors from across the country for two energizing days of learning, idea-sharing, and meaningful connection. The Art Festival Directors Conference is created by directors, for directors - practical, candid, and focused on the realities of producing exceptional events.

Stay for the weekend and experience the Lubbock Arts Festival firsthand, one of Texas’s premier cultural events and a living case study in best practices. From artist relations and sponsorship strategy to logistics, marketing, and patron engagement, you’ll see what works on the ground and in real time.


Why Lubbock?

The festival has earned four consecutive “Best in Texas” awards from the Texas Festivals & Events Association (2021–2024) and two “Grand Pinnacle” awards from the International Festivals and Events Association (2021, 2023).


Conference Highlights

Festival management and operations

Marketing and audience growth

Community engagement and sponsorships

Grant writing strategies

AI tools for art show directors

Presentation of the 14th Annual State of the Artist Survey


If you’re looking to collaborate with peers, spark new ideas, and strengthen your festival for the seasons ahead, this is the conference to put on your calendar.

Save the date and join us in Texas.


Conference Chairs

Elizabeth Grigsby, Executive Director, Lubbock Arts Alliance

Cindy Lerick, President, Art of Events LLC

Robin Markowitz, Executive Director, Art-Linx

What’s in Your Studio Right Now?


January has a way of making artists feel behind before the year has even started. Clean desk fantasies appear out of nowhere. New collections are imagined. Grand plans are made. And yet, when you actually walk into your studio, the reality is often something else entirely.


Works in progress. Pieces that almost work. Ideas that were exciting in October and feel questionable in January. Materials stacked with good intentions. Notes taped to the wall that say things like try this again or finish later.


This is not a problem. This is the work.


January is not the month for producing more. It is the month for looking clearly at what already exists.



Most studios in January are not blank slates. They are archives of decision making. Every unfinished piece represents a question you are still answering. Every half finished idea carries information. What did you learn here. What worked. What did not. What feels essential and what feels like noise.


Editing is a creative act. It requires confidence, restraint, and honesty. It asks you to decide what belongs in your body of work and what does not. That decision making is far more valuable than forcing something new simply because the calendar turned.


There is also relief in acknowledging that not everything needs to be finished. Some pieces are studies. Some ideas were meant to teach you something and then stop. Letting go of work that no longer serves you is not failure. It is refinement.


January csn be a good time to quietly sort. Stack the pieces that speak clearly. Set aside the ones that need time. Release the work that feels forced or unresolved in a way that no longer interests you. This is how a stronger, more cohesive body of work begins to emerge.


If you are feeling pressure to produce, pause and ask a different question. What if the most important work this month is choosing. Choosing which ideas deserve more time. Choosing which pieces represent you now. Choosing what you are ready to stand behind.


Your studio does not need to look impressive in January. It needs to be honest.

The clarity you gain now will show up later in your images, your applications, your booth, and your confidence. Editing creates direction. Direction creates momentum.


So take a look around your studio. The answers are already there.

Last Chance to APPLY: Click logo for more information!

76th Old Town Art Fair

Chicago, IL

June 13-14, 2026


Application Deadline 1/15/26

Rose Squared
Art Shows

NJ, PA, NY


Fall Early Decision & Jewelry Application Deadline 1/31/26

51st Wells Street 
Art Festival

Chicago, IL

June 13-14, 2026


Application Deadline 1/25/26

54th OneAmerica Broad Ripple Art Fair

Indianapolis, IN

May 16-17, 2026


Application Deadline 1/21/26

53rd Hinsdale 

Fine Arts Festival

Hinsdale, IL

June 6-7, 2026



Application Deadline 3/6/25



32nd Worthington

Arts Festival

Worthington, Ohio 

June 20-21, 2026


Application Deadline 2/1/26

A Creative Way to Set Goals for 2026

A new year often arrives carrying a familiar weight: resolutions. While setting intentions can be powerful, rigid, all-or-nothing goals don’t always suit the reality of an artist’s life. Creativity doesn’t follow a straight line, and neither do our schedules, ideas, or energy levels.


For 2026, consider a more flexible and artist-friendly approach to goal-setting: a goal-oriented bingo card.


A bingo card turns intention-setting into something visual, playful, and achievable. Each square represents a specific, actionable goal. Rather than trying to do everything at once, the objective is simple: complete five squares in a row - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You can also aim to fill the entire card over the course of the year, at your own pace.


The key is to keep goals realistic and concrete. Large ambitions become far more manageable when broken into smaller steps. Instead of “improve my online presence,” try “post five studio or process videos” or “update my artist bio.”


Balance productivity with pleasure. Mix in goals that feed your curiosity and joy, visit a gallery you’ve never been to, spend an afternoon sketching without an agenda, or revisit a favorite art book for inspiration.


Unlike traditional resolutions, a bingo card removes the pressure to “complete everything.” You’re free to move between goals as time and energy allow. There’s real satisfaction in crossing off a square, finishing a line, or gradually watching the card fill up throughout the year.


Your card should reflect your artistic path. Tailor it to your medium, career stage, and interests. A thoughtful mix of professional goals and personal creative growth helps maintain momentum without burnout.


Place your bingo card somewhere visible, on your studio wall, desk, or bulletin board. Check off squares as you go and take a moment to acknowledge those small wins. They add up.


And stay flexible. If a goal no longer fits, replace it. This is a living tool, not a contract.


Whether 2026 is about refining your craft, strengthening your business, or simply reconnecting with the joy of making art, a bingo card offers a supportive and motivating way forward, one square at a time.


If the card below works for you, feel free to print it by clicking on the image.


Here’s to a creative, balanced, and inspired New Year.

Contact Robin Markowitz at Robin@Art-Linx.com
The Art-Linx website has the most current Call to Artist information