ArtCrush, Aspen Art Museum’s signature summer gala and auction, returns in 2026 with an extraordinary lineup of artists contributing works across painting, sculpture, photography, and more. Each piece has been generously donated by the artists and their galleries in support of the Museum’s mission and programming. From emerging voices to globally recognized names, the selection reflects the vibrancy and diversity of today’s contemporary art landscape.

In honor of the Museum’s founding by artists, AAM will once again offer participating artists the option to retain a percentage of the value of their auctioned work—part of an ongoing commitment to artist equity. Curated in collaboration with the ArtCrush Gala Co-Chairs and advisors Mary Zlot and Bernie Lagrange, the auction brings together boundary-pushing talent from around the world.

Discover a selection of participating artists below and view the full collection of works at the Museum from July 14 through July 30—or explore the online preview.

Ding Shilun

A master of the covert self-portrait, Shilun’s paintings blend memory, fantasy, and observation to explore different iterations of selfhood and the absurdity of the everyday. The artist applies thin layers of diluted oil paint to concoct these scenes, applying traditional Chinese painterly customs and Japanese manga references to decidedly contemporary scenes. In Shilun’s worlds, human figures, mythical animals, and objects rife with symbolism take on eerie and enigmatic persona and forms. These works are at once familiar and unexpected.

His carefully orchestrated tableaux evoke expressive, emotive states, inviting viewers to navigate uncertainty and transformation. The artist’s paintings reflect on the complexity of contemporary experience, balancing personal reflection with broader questions about life.

Kindly donated by Bernheim Gallery London.