Ashton Burton ’26 is no stranger to winning awards. During his time as a Cleveland Institute of Art student, the Painting alum received a total of four Student Independent Exhibition awards for work he had in SIE 78, SIE 79 and SIE 80.
But back in June, he was named a 2026 AXA Art Prize U.S. finalist, meaning his work was being recognized on an even larger—national—stage.
“When I first got the email, I was so thrilled to receive the opportunity to be accepted into this prestigious exhibition,” Burton says.
Since its launch in 2018, the AXA Art Prize U.S. has become a flagship platform for emerging artists, celebrating innovative figurative work by undergraduate and graduate students.
In 2026, nearly 600 submissions from 132 schools across the U.S. were narrowed down to 40 outstanding works—including Burton's.
Those 40 finalists will be celebrated through an in-person exhibition in November at the New York Academy of Art in New York City. During the week of the exhibition, first-place and runner-up awards will be announced. Winners will receive a $10,000 prize and $5,000 prize, respectively.
Burton is the most recent AXA Art Prize U.S. finalist from CIA to be recognized. Previous honorees include Crystal Miller ’23 and Derek Walker ’23, both of whom were finalists in 2021.
Ahead of exhibiting in New York, Burton took time to share his thoughts about the AXA Art Prize.
How exciting is it that your work will be on view in New York City? Are you able to attend the reception? If so, what do you hope to gain from the experience?
I am so beyond excited to show in New York City since it will be my first time showing there. Furthermore, I am grateful that I will get to experience the reception with my family and loved ones! From this experience, I hope to gain successful networking interactions and understand that opportunities are closer than we think when we apply ourselves to our practices and embrace aspects of ourselves that are tested.
Will you describe "Threaded Roots," the work that AXA Art Prize recognized? What inspired it? And, generally speaking, how does it fit into your larger artistic practice?
“Threaded Roots” is the passing of woven lineage through culture and history. The pattern and embroidery tell stories of connection between shared ideas and values of people. Celebrations and traditions from the African diaspora subconsciously present either retold or reshaped. Pulling from a substantial era in history like the Harlem Renaissance, there's a large impact on clothing and fashion that is worn all around the world today and was fostered by black designers.
The drawing was inspired by the moments I had with my family and the values plus morals I’ve learned from them. My piece “Threaded Roots” is emblematic of my experience, ideas of personhood and dignity. I think this artwork fits into my larger artistic practice where I use an idea of “beauty” throughout all my work. I try to hold my viewers entranced with an emotional experience through imagery that tells us something is beautiful, holding affirmation and value.
Where did you attend high school? What led you to choose CIA for college?
I attended Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The reason I chose CIA for my undergraduate degree was because I knew it would be important for me as a person to be in a space where I could connect with others that shared similar lived experiences plus backgrounds!
Now that you're a CIA graduate and AXA Art Prize finalist, what are you working on and/or working toward?
Now that I am an alum of CIA and focused on progressing my career in the visual arts world, I have been working toward having my first solo show in 2027 building off my thesis work that I made for my BFA!