Artadia is pleased to announce the 2020 Atlanta Awards Finalists:

Artemus Jenkins

Grace Kisa & Maurice Evans NU AFRICANS Project

Yanique Norman

Zipporah Camille Thompson

Jamele Wright, Sr.

The Finalists will receive studio visits with second-round jurors, who will ultimately select two artists as Awardees to receive $10,000 in unrestricted funds. The Finalists were selected by jurors Carla Acevedo Yates, Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Jared Steffensen, Curator of Exhibitions, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art; and Lauren Tate Baeza, Fred and Rita Richman curator of African art, High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

Of the process, both Lauren and Jared mentioned the vibrancy of the Atlanta arts community, and the urgency to support them, especially now. Lauren stated, “This year’s finalists are an exciting group of artists working on projects that inspire a strong desire to see their well grounded concepts built upon and further developed. It is important that the work is not only compelling, but that it possesses the capacity for ongoing exploration.” Echoing her sentiment, Jared noted, “I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the jurying process for the 2020 Artadia Atlanta Awards. In a time when things feel disconnected and uneasy, I appreciated the thoughtful and insightful conversations I was able to have with the fellow jurors about the work of the talented artists who applied for the award. The Atlanta area clearly has a strong and vibrant art community. I look forward to seeing more from the five finalists and the many talented artists I was introduced to through the process.” 

Of the Atlanta submissions, Carla particularly noted, “During these difficult times, it is all the more important to support artists through unrestricted awards that further their artistic practice as well as their livelihoods. In reviewing applications, I was particularly impressed with the diversity of media as well as the social acuteness that artists in Atlanta are currently engaging with. The five artists selected for studio visits with second round jurors have a rigorous artistic practice anchored in a deep understanding of their chosen medium and materials.” 

This is Artadia’s eighth Award cycle in Atlanta, the application was open to all visual artists living and working within the counties of: Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton for over two years, working in any visual arts media, and at any stage of their career. Finalists and Artadia Award recipients are selected through Artadia’s two-tier jury review process. In the first round of review, jurors evaluated all submissions and collaboratively determined the five Finalists. 

Read full press release here

Founded in 1999, Artadia is a nonprofit grantmaker of unrestricted funds, and nationwide community of visual artists, curators, and patrons. Artadia believes that by working collaboratively to improve the conditions necessary for artists from all backgrounds to thrive and succeed, we can strengthen their communities and foster economic justice in the arts. Since its founding, Artadia has awarded over $5 million to 344 artists in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Artadia’s programs elevate the careers of these artists through recognition, grantmaking, community support, and advocacy. As arts communities continue to be deeply impacted by COVID-19, with many artists losing exhibition opportunities and having their livelihoods jeopardized, Artadia’s mission to support artists is more critical than ever before.

The 2020 Atlanta Artadia Awards are generously supported by Mailchimp, Artadia Board of Directors, Artadia Atlanta Council members, and individual donors from across the country.