Fine Art

Artist of the Year 2026 for fine arts: Lucius Acker – Orange County Register

May 14, 2026 10 Mins Read

Though the field was highly competitive, the judges for Artist of the Year in Fine Arts quickly singled out one finalist whose singular vision and startling imagery made him a standout: Lucius Acker, 18, a senior at Esperanza High School.

“His vision seems to be very authentic to himself,” said Michelle Murillo, chair of the Department of Art at California State University Fullerton. “There’s a certain level of honesty there, and also bravery. He’s willing to be vulnerable.”

“He is an artist’s artist,” said Kelley Moglika, adjunct professor at Laguna College of Art and Design. Moglika was also impressed with Acker’s willingness to tackle controversial subjects intelligently and with insight. ”He’s speaking about our times from a place of feeling.”

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Lucius Acker of Placentia, a senior at Esperanza High School, is the 2026 Artist of the Year for the fine arts award, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Tall, thoughtful and calm, Acker’s nature belies the turbulence and emotion of his art.

An untitled work showed figures locked in uncomfortable and violent embraces. “It’s about confused violence, especially (associated) with political polarization,” Acker explained. “It’s about how people get confused in their personal and political beliefs and how they exert their anger.”

Another work, “Annihilator,” showed a twisted figure. “It’s a reflection of emotion,” the artist said. “I was given this long frame and I wanted to make a tall figure that twisted in the middle into something else. It’s about inner turmoil and fighting with yourself.”

Acker’s work wasn’t unrelentingly serious. A depiction of people dancing and interacting in a punk club revealed his talent for humor and capturing personality with a few deft strokes. “I was at this club in Tacoma. I looked at how people dressed and how that reflected their personalities.” Acker’s grasp of the scene was undoubtedly helped by his second passion: he’s a musician and performs as a singer and guitarist in a band called Dogs Forever; he also writes songs. ”I listen to a lot of music and like to make my own as well.”

As a visual artist, “my process is very confessional and impressionist,” Acker said. “My emotions build up over time and I release them through these pieces. Each one … isn’t the most positive or bright thing, but it’s a catharsis and release that helps me understand the world around me.”

Lynn Magnin, Acker’s art teacher, describes him as an exceptional young artist whose depth of thought and fearless experimentation set him apart as a truly distinctive creative voice. “A profound thinker, Lucius approaches every piece with an intellectual curiosity that fuels his bold combinations of drawing and painting techniques. His work demonstrates a mature artistic vision — one that challenges viewers, evokes emotion, and leaves a lasting impact on everyone through deep reflection on society and the human condition.”

Acker, who says he loves “a space that allows people to create and flourish,” should have his dream fulfilled soon. He plans to attend the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Fine art finalists

In addition to Artist of the Year, the judges selected three talented finalists from the 15 Fine Arts semifinalists.

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Reshan Harris of Mission Viejo, a junior at Capistrano Valley High School, is a 2026 fine arts finalist for Artist of the Year, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Reshan Harris: Harris, a junior at Capistrano Valley High School, looked like he was dressed for a job interview at a bank: white shirt, conservative tie and dark pants. His appearance concealed the curious and probing artist within.

Harris’ meticulously crafted and imaginative ceramic sculptures “could stand on their own at the Sawdust Festival,” said judge Kelley Moglika. With titles like “Torque,” “Wounded” and “Hollow,” they uncannily implied sometimes violent movement. “Wounded” contained what looked like a bullet’s entrance and exit wounds on its smooth sides.

Harris, who turns 17 at the end of May, prefers abstract shapes to bowls and vases. “I’m more comfortable speaking artistically through non-functional shapes.” The intensity in his voice as he describes his work shows that he was hooked on the material, said Brian Schultz, his art teacher at Capistrano Valley High School. “Reshan had to give up his position in the school band in order to fit ceramics into his schedule the following year. As a potter Reshan has a great eye and feel for forms.”

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Damian Slavkov of Anaheim, a senior at Valencia High School, is a 2026 fine arts finalist for Artist of the Year, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Damian Slavkov: Tall and athletic, Slavkov has been working in ceramics for two years. When asked about his inspiration, he couldn’t stop talking about doughnuts. “I like making donut shapes of all kinds. It’s unconventional but it works for me.” He pointed to a vase that captured his doughnut aesthetic. “This was my first piece. It opened me up to the world of the doughnut.” A less doughnut-inspired work titled “Ruin” showed a vine-cover wall. “With this one, the design (inspiration) is an ancient ruin taken over by vines.”

“Damian has a real passion and interest in ceramics and ceramic art and is also spending as much time as possible working on becoming a better ceramic artist,” said Ryan Reich, his art teacher at Valencia High School. “If Damian is not working on his own artwork he is always willing to help his peers and impart his own wisdom and experience.”

Slavkov, 18, said his interest in ceramics changed his life. He adopted healthier habits and lost weight. “Having something to be so passionate about and becoming focused on thinking about it, that gave me a purpose.” Slavkov plans to attend Orange Coast College and study architecture.

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Junting Zhang of Irvine, a senior at Portola High School, is a 2026 fine arts finalist for Artist of the Year, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Junting Zhang: Dressed head to toe in stylish black, Zhang presented a series of ceramic creations that amply demonstrated her roving, whimsical and often dark aesthetic sensibilities: a human torso that sprouted verdant flowers in place of a head, a bleached sheep skull, a cartoonish dancing bear, cut-open fruit that revealed red meat as its flesh, and a fanged deer with a gruesome crevice in its forehead.

“These are pieces that I wanted to create, not what other people wanted,” Zhang, 17, said. “These represent me the most. I love to see how audiences feel about my pieces. I like to see how they react. I don’t want people to think there’s only one kind of art. I just want people to know there are so many different things in this world. As an artist, I hope to create work that encourages people to slow down and reflect on their own feelings and relationships. I want my art to make viewers feel seen, even if they cannot fully explain why.”

Junting, a junior, “is diverse, highly creative, and exceptionally ambitious,” said Donovan Miller, her teacher at Portola High School. “(She) may be the most talented sculptor to come through this school in its 10-year history.”

The judges

Special thanks to the judges who helped evaluate students this year.

The judges who evaluated the 164 fine arts nominees and chose the 15 semifinalists were:

Mauro Cardoza, Valencia High School
Theresa Conte, Pacific Academy
Daina Ellis, Westminster High School
Ariel Gjersvold, Orange Lutheran High School
Nancy Harrell, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Cheralynn Johnston, Valencia High School
Miriam Khurgel, University High School
Jane Klammer, Orange Lutheran High School
Kim Lee, Atelier Creative Art
Lynn Magnin, Esperanza High School
Jorge Mascarenhas, JSerra Catholic High School
Donovan Miller, Portola High School
Devan Rexinger, Fairmont Preparatory School
Christina Rising, Northwood High School
Jillian Rogers, Woodbridge High School
Brian Schultz, Capistrano Valley High School
Somer Selway, Laguna Beach High School
Sherri Sieb, El Toro High School
Samatha Squieri, Beckman High School
Pamela Toomey, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

The judges who interviewed the semifinalists and chose the three finalists and the Artist of the Year were:

Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Kelley Moglika, Adj. Professor of Drawing & Painting, Laguna College of Arts + Design
Michelle Murillo, Chair, Dept. of Art, Cal State Fullerton

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