21c Museum Hotels, a multi-venue contemporary art museum and award-winning hospitality company, and Artadia, a non-profit grantmaker and nationwide community of visual artists, curators, and patrons, are thrilled to announce André Leon Gray has been selected as the 2023 21c Research Triangle Artadia Awardee.

Launched in Louisville, KY in 2021, the 21c Artadia Award marked the beginning of a long-term partnership, which will annually provide $15,000 in unrestricted funds to one artist living and working in the unique creative communities where 21c Museum Hotels are located. The 21c Artadia Award is designed to provide essential funding and recognition to artists at pivotal points in their careers, strengthen arts communities, and spur new levels of career achievement. 

The 21c Research Triangle Award application was open to visual artists currently living and working within Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Person, and Wake counties for a minimum of two years.

“Artadia jurors Ashley James and Hallie Ringle selected three outstanding finalists for the 2023 21c/Artadia award,” says 21c Chief Curator Alice Gray Stites. “Raj Bunnag, André Leon Gray, and Gadisse Lee are all dynamic, thoughtfully engaged artists whose practices reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the arts community in the Research Triangle. 21c congratulates André Leon Gray on being awarded this year’s grant, and we look forward to his growing success and contributions to an expanding art community through compelling work that explores relevant and timely issues.”

Juror Hallie Ringle reflected on the jurying process, “It was a pleasure to review the finalists with Ashley James, a curator I admire and whose insightful comments were critical to the process. I’m grateful to Artadia for the chance to be involved in such a rewarding and thoughtful process that offers such crucial support and recognition to artists.”

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