26/10/2026
London Art Collective (LAC) is pleased to announce Donna Mclean as the recipient of the ArtEvol 2026 Audience Choice Award for her work “BOOM”. This year's exhibition, “ArtEvol 2026: A View from Everywhere”, took place at Saatchi Gallery in London from 2 to 12 October 2026.
The Audience Choice Award is part of LAC’s annual ArtEvol exhibition. It recognises the artwork that resonates most strongly with visitors.
The winning artwork is selected through a public vote held during the exhibition. Each visitor brings their own experiences and perspectives to ArtEvol, adding new voices to the exhibition. This participation becomes an extension of the curatorial process, giving audiences a role in how artworks are recognised and valued.
Born in Wigan and based in London, Donna Mclean has exhibited at galleries and art institutions across the UK, including eight appearances at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Her paintings explore the relationship between beauty and unease, attraction and aversion.
“BOOM” began as a series of small paintings depicting explosions, later brought together into a single work. Developed over more than three years, it reflects on the enduring presence of war and how much closer it feels today. Donna Mclean transforms destructive imagery into painting, creating a contrast between visual beauty and the realities of war.
At “ArtEvol 2025: Voices from the Undefined”, artist Curtis Holder received the Audience Choice Award for “Dance of Eshu”(2024). From Curtis Holder to Donna Mclean, the Audience Choice Award continues to highlight the importance of public perspectives in contemporary art. Through this award, LAC aims to bring art closer to the public, creating space for different voices to be heard and encouraging everyone to take part in conversations about art.
London Art Collective congratulates Donna Mclean on receiving the ArtEvol 2026 Audience Choice Award and thanks everyone who took part in the public vote.