2015 Chicago Artadia Awards Finalists Revealed

Artadia is pleased to announce the ten finalists for the 2015 Chicago Artadia Awards. The finalists were selected by first round jurorsNaomi Beckwith, Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Lumi Tan, Curator at The Kitchen, and artist Sara Greenberger Rafferty, following a panel review of 450 applicants in early August.

The ten finalists for the 2015 Chicago Artadia Awards are: Laura Davis, Irena Haiduk, LaMont Hamilton, Paul Heyer, Mika Horibuchi, Sabina Ott, John Preus, Terrence Reese, Laurie Jo Reynolds, and Cauleen Smith.

The jurors were excited by the range of artists who applied and by the vastly different studio practices they encountered during the application review. Of the 2015 finalists, Lumi Tan said she was, "incredibly impressed by the diversity of the applicants, and their ability to both reflect the local character of Chicago while engaging with aesthetic and social concerns shared by the greater international community of contemporary artists."

This is Artadia's seventh year providing unrestricted Awards to artists in Chicago. The first round of finalist selection asks two curators - one from the Award city, another from New York - and an artist to engage in discussion about the quality of the submissions received. Of the process, Sara Greenberger Rafferty commented that, "it was a rare honor to participate in a fair, merit-based process that will culminate in cash awards to talented artists working in the vital cultural landscape of Chicago."

A voice of local expertise during the Chicago Award deliberations, Naomi Beckwith said that, "it was a pleasure to serve on an Artadia jury in New York. The encouragement, attention and, of course funds they bring to artists are key in making sure important contemporary artists are given a platform. I'm especially thrilled to serve in a capacity that brings further support to artists in my vibrant Chicago community."

Beckwith will be joined by Dominic Molon, Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art, RISD Museum, and Ruth Estévez, Gallery Director and Curator, REDCAT, to conduct studio visits with the finalists later this month. The 2015 Chicago Artadia Awardees will be announced and exhibited at EXPO CHICAGO from September 17th - 21st.

The 2015 Chicago Artadia Awards were made possible thanks to the generosity of Artadia's members and Board of Directors and local corporations, foundations, and individuals. Special thanks to The Joyce Foundation.

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