PLEIN AIR ARTISTS OF THE YEAR 2026 EXHIBITION AT MODO (Preview Event)

Winners of Cambridgeshire Plein Air Artist of the Year Award are celebrated alongside major David Hockney works.
About this Event

MODO is excited to exhibit the winning works from the Plein Air Artist of the year competition for its second year.
From 19th until the 21st June 2026, the winning pieces will be shown in dynamic dialogue with the landscapes of David Hockney, in an exciting exhibition of works showcasing the future of culture within the city. These tickets are for the Preview Event on Friday 19th June 5-7pm tickets are openly available to all here.
As a gallery dedicated to David Hockney's work, we see a clear continuity between this tradition and his sustained exploration of seeing, whether in Yorkshire, California, or Normandy. The works shown here are not just records of place, but evidence of attention, decisions made in the now, and perception tested against reality. This is particularly present in the Young Artists category, where what emerges is not simply talent, but the early stages of cognitive development through art, where perception becomes active, judgement begins to take shape, and inventive thinking emerges.

At MODO, alongside our work with Art and Culture Education CIC, we extend this understanding into education and public programmes, positioning art as a core cognitive system that underpins how we think, adapt, and generate new ideas, connecting the gallery, the classroom, and the wider world through a shared focus on perception, intelligence, and human potential. All ticket sales funding goes directly to the not for profit, ACE CIC.

All public, participating artists, competition judges are warmly invited along with patrons and supporters of the Plein Air Competition.

MODO invites collectors, art lovers, students, and the wider community to join in this celebration of place, process, and artistic exploration.

All sales commission from Plein Air Artisit of the Year Exhibiton tickets will go directly to Art and Culture Education C.I.C a not for profit, community interest company working to address the marginalisation of art within education and and to promote art as a vital form of human thinking and innovation. If you would like to make an additional contribution please email [email protected].