by Payal Uttam 

MGM and Art Basel have named artist Natsuko Uchino the winner of the 2026 MGM Discoveries Prize. Uchino’s new body of ceramic sculptures and glazed paintings stood out among the 25 solo projects in the Discoveries sector. The artist will receive a cash prize of USD 50,000, to be shared with her gallery, Galerie Allen (Paris). She will also be invited to visit Macau to explore the city’s unique fusion of Chinese and Western cultures through an artistic lens, engage in meaningful dialogue with the local young art talents, and have the opportunity to present her work, sparking further creativity and inspiration.

‘MGM remains committed to leveraging Macau’s unique role as a vital gateway for cultural exchange between East and West,’ said Kenneth Feng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited. ‘Through our global network, we continue to create platforms that connect Macau’s arts community with the world, helping industry professionals gain deeper insights into global art market trends and the practical dynamics of the art economy.’

Feng explained that the prize, which was launched last year, aims to champion emerging talent and celebrate innovation and creativity. ‘We will continue strengthening our collaborations with the international cultural and arts sector, supporting Macau’s moderate diversified economic development and showcasing the city’s immense potential in cultural tourism integration,’ he added.

Based in Belvézet, a small town in southern France, Uchino works purely with natural materials such as clay, plants, glass, vegetable dyes, and wood. Her latest body of work overturns conventional preconceptions of utilitarian ceramics, transforming them into a series of evocative sculptural objects and paintings. She draws on the concept of mingei, established by Japanese philosopher Yanagi Sōetsu, which celebrates Japanese folk art created by anonymous artisans.

Applying glazes onto clay panels in a painterly fashion, she has created a series of vibrant vignettes inspired by her travels to cities such as Amsterdam and Granada, Spain. These are paired with a series of sculptural works, which have a raw, primordial quality. Pieces range from bowls with a jagged, propeller-like form erupting from the center, to a pot punctured by a hole inspired by the shape of a fumidai, a traditional Japanese step stool.

Many of her works depict animals such as birds, lambs, and foxes. The artist has developed her own distinct lexicon that carries traces of colors, forms, and imagery from various ceramic traditions, inviting viewers to make their own associations across time and place.

Speaking of their decision to select the winner, the jury said in a statement: ‘Natsuko Uchino is an artist whose work impressed with its expansive approach to material and medium, and whose practice emphasizes collective making, conviviality, and communality. These aims - of collectivity, conviviality, and community - are shared by MGM and Art Basel, and we could not imagine a more suitable and deserving winner.’

This year’s jury comprised five art-world luminaries: Antonia Carver, Director, Art Jameel, Dubai; Aaron Cezar, Director, Delfina Foundation, London; Christopher K. Ho, board member of Asia Art Archive and Powerhouse Arts and a member of the Design & Architecture Acquisitions Committee at M+, Hong Kong; Sam Seungho Park, Chairperson of the Board, Park Seobo Foundation, Seoul; and X Zhu-Nowell, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai.