2026 Finalists

The University of Virginia School of Data Science has announced the eight finalists for the 2026 Data Is ART Competition, whose works will be exhibited in the School's public gallery throughout the 2026–27 academic year.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions, the finalists impressed the jury with original works that explore this year's theme, Truth, through the creative use of data. Spanning a range of artistic mediums and visualization techniques, the selected pieces challenge viewers to consider how data can reveal patterns, tell stories, evoke emotion, and deepen our understanding of the world.

Vote for the People's Choice Award

A graphical representation titled "Everything I Touched" includes various icons symbolizing furniture, handheld items, body parts, a house, substance, something alive, and clothes. Colored circles represent thoughts about touching, results of actions, involuntary touches, unavoidable interactions, and things remembered afterward. The date is May 4th, 2023, and the time range is 9:34 AM to 10:34 AM.

"Family Touch" by Padmini Chandrasekaran

The image is an infographic featuring various colorful charts and graphs. It includes line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, and maps. It covers a range of data presentations, including circular diagrams, interconnected dots, and U.S. maps with color-coded information. The background is dark, making the vibrant colors stand out.

"Mapping Equality: The LGBTQ+ Equality Project" by Danielle Currier

A vibrant bouquet featuring various flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, with lush green foliage.

"Data in Bloom" by Kelsey Dufresne

Three ceramic sculptures depicting rounded, cave-like structures with shelter openings. Each sculpture features different messages in black or white text, such as percentages and statements about societal issues. One includes tags with handwritten notes addressing challenges like child care and housing instability.

"Waiting for Child Care: Truth Across Modes of Representation" by Isabelle Fares

An abstract watercolor artwork featuring rows of overlapping rectangular shapes in various pastel shades like blue, lavender, green, and peach. Some shapes are outlined, and a few have differing saturation levels, creating a textured, layered effect.

"Bestselling Books Project" by Daria Koshkina

A collage artwork featuring numerous hands reaching into circular bubbles, interspersed with zodiac signs around an astrological chart. The composition has a cosmic and mystical theme, with celestial symbols and a dark, star-speckled background.

"Asterisms" by Ranger Liu

A long textile art piece hangs from the wall, featuring beige and brown strands that cascade downwards.

"ICE Detention Data Visualized (1/1/23 – 10/16/25)" by Rachel Saidi

Anna Yao's Eclipse "Illuminating the Research World"

"Eclipse" by Anna Yao

People's Choice Award

Launched in 2024, the biennial Data Is ART Competition celebrates the intersection of data science, design, and artistic expression. The competition invites artists, designers, daLaunched in 2024, the biennial Data Is ART Competition celebrates the intersection of data science, design, and artistic expression. The competition invites artists, designers, data scientists, and creative thinkers from around the world to transform data into compelling visual experiences that inspire curiosity and conversation.

The eight finalists represent a diverse mix of backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives. Their works will be displayed in the School of Data Science throughout the academic year, culminating in a public award ceremony on Sept. 4 featuring a keynote presentation by Alberto Cairo, an internationally renowned expert in data visualization, information design, and visual journalism. The Grand Prize, Honorable Mention, and People's Choice Award winners will also be announced.