The ten finalists were selected by first round jurors Matthew Higgs, Director and Chief Curator of White Columns; Amanda Hunt, Curator at The Studio Museum and artist Michele Abeles, following a panel review of 1,050 applicants in mid-April.

The ten finalists for the 2015 New York Artadia Awards are:

Yevgeniya Baras
Joe Fyfe
Donna Huanca
Bill Jenkins
Jennie Jieun Lee
Eric Mack
Sara Magenheimer
Park McArthur
Kameelah Rasheed
Georgia Sagri

Amanda Hunt said of the process: “We reviewed an enormous amount of applicants, and I am completely thrilled by what New York has to offer. This list is reflexive of my values and interests working as a curator – the artists we selected each make work that is equally challenging, political and rigorous.”

Of the finalists, Matthew Higgs stated: “there aren’t any obvious connections between [them] – in terms of medium, material, or motives – but together they represent an energy that we feel is palpable and even contagious.” Higgs will be joined by John Rasmussen, Executive Director of Midway Contemporary, and Ingrid Schaffner, Senior Curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, to conduct studio visits with the finalists. The 2015 New York Artadia Awardees will be announced in late May. Artadia will exhibit a selection of work from the finalists at NADA New York from May 14th – 17th.

The 2015 New York Awards are Artadia’s first Award cycle in New York. Since 1998, Artadia has recognized artistic excellence is cities across the United States with unrestricted, merit-based Awards to contemporary artists chosen through a rigorous jury process involving a panel of internationally recognized curators. In addition to New York, Artadia currently funds Awards on a rotating cycle in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.