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Yaakov Agam Named 2026 Israel Prize Winner in Arts
Yaakov Agam named 2026 Israel Prize winner in Arts for his seven-decade contribution, revolutionizing kinetic and op art with dynamic, changing works.
Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, announced the winner of the israel prize in the field of plastic arts, painting, sculpture and photography is the artist Yaakov Agam.
The award committee noted in its reasoning that Yaakov Agam’s work echoes a long-standing contribution to Israeli and international art over the past seven decades. According to it, Agam broke through the boundaries of plastic art as it was known and renewed the languages of kinetic art and op art.
The committee also noted that the central innovative element in his work over the years is the idea of internal change, both in the body of the work itself and from the changing perspective of the viewer. His works combine visual elements with musical elements in movement in space and time, reflecting a dynamic and renewing reality. His work expresses a concept according to which art must be mobile and changing, just as reality itself is constantly created and shaped.
The Israel Prize is the most important and prestigious award given in the state of Israel. The awards will be presented on the evening of the 78th Independence Day of the State of Israel.
