"Across studios, stages, workshops, and writing desks throughout the state, six Maine artists are shaping how we see, hear, move through, and understand the world around us," said The Maine Arts Commission, in a news release.

The Commission has named the 2026 Maine Artist Fellowship recipients, honoring artists working at the highest levels of creative excellence, each with a $5,000 unrestricted award. Throughout 2026, the Maine Arts Commission will promote and celebrate the work of the Maine Artist Fellows, sharing their stories and artistic contributions across statewide platforms.  

The Maine Artist Fellowship is a merit-based award that recognizes artistic excellence across the arc of an artist’s career. Fellowships are not project grants; rather, they provide support to artists whose work demonstrates outstanding quality and originality. Recipients are selected through a peer review process conducted by jurors from outside Maine to ensure an independent evaluation, according to the Commission.

"Together, this cohort reflects the depth, diversity, and vitality of Maine’s creative landscape, representing a wide range of disciplines, lived experiences, and artistic practices rooted in both local and global perspectives," said the Commission. 

The 2026 Maine Artist Fellowship recipients are: 

(Media Arts) Bethany Engstrom, of Belfast, creates interdisciplinary video and installation work that examines time, labor, care, and motherhood. By merging digital and traditional media, her practice reflects on contemporary anxieties and the overlapping responsibilities of art-making and caregiving.

(Visual Arts) Lihua Lei Farley, of Cushing, creates installations, performances, and sculptures using natural and biodegradable materials. Informed by her upbringing in rural Taiwan and decades living in Maine, her work emphasizes healing, environmental stewardship, and participation, inviting viewers into shared spaces of reflection.

(Fine Craft) James Macdonald, of Burnham, is known for his meticulous marquetry and wood art, often crafted as playable guitars that merge visual art, music, and trompe l’oeil techniques. His work explores balance, form, memory, and connection, drawing on a deep respect for craft tradition while advancing contemporary expression. 

(Literary Arts) Mira Ptacin, of Peaks Island, is a narrative journalist, essayist, and memoirist whose work amplifies deeply human stories across Maine and beyond. Her reporting examines justice, equity, and transformation, often centering voices marginalized by mainstream narratives in Maine and beyond. She is also an advocate for reentry support for formerly incarcerated women. 

(Performing Arts) Kate Russell, of Deer Isle, is a theater artist and director whose work centers collaboration, place-based storytelling, and community engagement. Her performances are rooted in mythic and intimate narratives that illuminate overlooked histories and foster collective reflection. 

(Traditional Arts) Sokhoeun Sok, of Westbrook, is a master Cambodian traditional dancer and teacher with more than three decades of experience. Born in Phnom Penh, she has devoted her life to preserving and passing on Cambodian dance traditions, mentoring new generations across Maine and New England.  

For more information about the Maine Artist Fellowship program and to view full artist profiles, visit mainearts.maine.gov. 

The Maine Arts Commission is an independent state agency that supports artists, arts organizations, and communities across all 16 counties, strengthening Maine’s cultural life and creative economy. The Maine Arts Commission fosters public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and artistic expression in our state. We pursue our mission through partnerships and collaborations, initiatives, advocacy, and grants for organizations, individual artists, communities, and schools throughout Maine.