Peter Kennard to Receive the 2026 IPA | AIP
Honorary Award in the Arts

The International Peace Alliance | Alliance Internationale de la Paix (IPA | AIP) is honoured to announce that distinguished artist and pioneer of political photomontage Peter Kennard will receive the 2026 IPA | AIP Honorary Award in the Arts in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to politically engaged art and his lifelong commitment to using visual culture as a powerful voice for peace, justice, and human rights.

"For more than five decades, Peter Kennard has demonstrated the extraordinary power of art to challenge injustice, confront the human consequences of conflict, and inspire public reflection. His work reminds us that artists have an important role in shaping public consciousness and advancing the dialogue necessary for a more peaceful and humane world."

— The Honourable Dr. Alvin Curling

President & Chair

International Peace Alliance | Alliance Internationale de la Paix (IPA | AIP)

The award will be presented during the Peace Ambassadors  Awards Gala & Grand Ball, the closing celebration of the 2026 International Peace Festival, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada.

For more than five decades, Peter Kennard has been one of the world's most prominent practitioners of political photomontage, creating striking and thought-provoking images that challenge systems of power, militarism, and social injustice. His work demonstrates how visual art can function not only as aesthetic expression, but also as a profound form of civic engagement.

Born in London in 1949, Kennard studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, where he began developing the distinctive visual language that would come to define his career. Drawing inspiration from the tradition of twentieth-century photomontage, he pioneered contemporary approaches combining photography, collage, and digital media to confront urgent global issues.

Kennard's work has been closely associated with movements advocating for nuclear disarmament, peace, and social justice, particularly through his collaborations with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). His images, often stark, symbolic, and immediately recognizable, have appeared in newspapers, public campaigns, exhibitions, and major cultural institutions, reaching audiences far beyond traditional gallery spaces.

His work is held in the collections of leading institutions including Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and the British Museum, and has been exhibited internationally. Through exhibitions, publications, and collaborations with writers, filmmakers, and activists, Kennard has demonstrated how art can provoke public debate and inspire critical reflection on the consequences of conflict and the pursuit of peace.

Peter Kennard's contributions have been widely recognized. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and has received honours including an Honorary Doctorate recognizing his lasting impact on visual culture. 

The 2026 IPA | AIP Honorary Award in the Arts recognizes Peter Kennard's lifelong dedication to artistic expression as a catalyst for dialogue and social awareness. His body of work offers a powerful reminder that art can play a vital role in confronting injustice, challenging militarism, encouraging public reflection, and advancing the pursuit of peace.

The award will be formally conferred upon Peter Kennard during the Peace Ambassadors Awards Gala & Grand Ball as part of the International Peace Alliance's global celebration of leadership, peacebuilding, culture, and international cooperation.