GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Friday evening people gathered at Rosa Parks Circle in Downtown Grand Rapids to learn who would get the "Prize" in ArtPrize.
A total of over $400,000 was given out in cash prizes to the winners of this year's competition.
The event ran from 6 to 9 p.m. and celebrated everyone, from artists to donors, volunteers and visitors themselves.
The closing bash included local food vendors, a beer garden, fire dancers, light shows, keynote speakers and a live musical performance by the Blue Water Kings Band.
The winner of the public vote, who took home the grand prize of $125,000, was Abdoulaye Conde for his piece "Raining Wisdom."
The public vote for the competition was open to all attendees ages 13 and up.
Public Vote:
- First Place for $125,000: Abdoulaye Conde's "Raining Wisdom"
- Second Place for $50,000: Rebecca Humes' "Tale of Ten Dresses" on display at JW Marriott Grand Rapids
- Third Place for $25,000: Peggy Slattery's "An Iris Collection of 5" on display at Amway Grand Plaza
The Juried Competition was judged by a hand-picked committee comprised of esteemed members Jonathan Levine, Josh Solas, Coka Trevino, Briana Yarhouse and Rachel Winter.
The artwork was evaluated based on "strict criteria to honor artists who exemplify excellence in their respective mediums." There was a second artist from each category recognized as an Honorable Mention. Each winner was awarded $20,000.
Juried Competition:
- 2D: Stephen Brennan's "Mandy with Orchid" on display at Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
- 3D: Kumkum Fernando’s “The Lost Mystics” on display at ArtPrize ClubHouse
- Digital: Eric Souther and Benjamin Rosenthal’s “Body-oddy-oddy-oddy: Destabilizing the Surveilling of Queer Bodies” on display at ArtPrize ClubHouse
- Time-Based: Aryel Jackson's "The Future is a Constant Wake" on display at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University
- Installation (tied): DisArt's "The Art of Disruption" and Whitney Pyles' "The Zone of Authenticity" *The prize will be evenly distributed to both declared winners at $10,000 each
The Visibility Awards are new to ArtPrize this year to "support contemporary artists from underrepresented communities and uplift diverse perspectives." The awards were presented by MillerKnoll and each honoree was awarded $15,000.
Visibility Awards:
- Vanguard Award for Contemporary Black Artists, presented by LMCU: Maya James' "#NoMoreStolenSist(a)s" on display at Zabház
- Originators Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artists, presented by Gun Lake Casino and Gun Lake Investments: Juan Pimentel's "SERENITY" on display at Harmony Brewing Company
- Horizontes Award for Contemporary Latino Artists: Salvador Jimenez-Flores' "Caminantes / Wayfarers" on display at ArtPrize Oasis
- Crossroads Award for Contemporary Asian Artists: Minyoung Kwak's "Isa(Moving)" on display at Monroe Community Church
- Prism Award for Contemporary Queer Artists: Christopher Shields' "Technophobia'" on display at The Morton
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