ArtPrize


ArtPrize is an art competition and festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Anyone over the age of 18 can display their art, and any space within the three-square-mile ArtPrize district can be a venue. There are typically over 160 venues such as museums, galleries, bars, restaurants, hotels, public parks, bridges, laundromats, auto body shops, and more.
ArtPrize lasts for 19 days beginning in late September, and during each festival $500,000 in cash prizes are awarded based on public voting and a jury of art experts.
ArtPrize was created in 2009 by Rick DeVos, the son of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. In 2017, the festival's connection to the DeVos family's wealth and their conservative politics was criticized by artist Eric Millikin in his “Made of Money” installation, placed within ArtPrize.
In 2014, The Art Newspaper listed ArtPrize as one of the most-attended "big ticket" art events, with ArtPrize's attendance of 440,000 being roughly one quarter of the 1.6 million who attended the Russian Imperial Costume exhibition at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. ArtPrize was highlighted along with Slows Bar BQ and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park as one of the reasons to visit Grand Rapids in The New York Times’ "52 Places To Go in 2016."
In 2018, ArtPrize announced the Project exhibition to showcase larger works and planned to hold ArtPrize every other year, though the Project 1 event in 2019 experienced substantially less visitors. The twelfth ArtPrize was postponed in 2020 with officials citing the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 event ran from September 15 to October 2, 2022, with many visitors criticizing the smaller scale of works present.

Concept

ArtPrize was conceived as an untraditional art contest with its goals being: any artist in the world could compete; anyone with property in downtown Grand Rapids could turn their space into a venue; and any visitor could vote for their favorite artwork. Event organizers would provide no selection committees or curators. And the largest cash prize in the art world would be awarded entirely by popular vote.
At the inaugural ArtPrize, held in 2009, the winners were determined solely by the public, voting from mobile devices and the ArtPrize website. In 2010, ArtPrize added categories judged by art experts, and in 2014 restructured the awards format bringing two parallel tracks of public vote and juried awards with equal prize amounts.

2009 competition

The 2009 exhibition occurred in a area of downtown Grand Rapids, from September 21 to October 9, 2009. 1,262 artists or artist collaboratives displayed their work in 159 venues. An estimated 200,000 attendees visited the event, with 334,219 total votes cast throughout the 19 days.

Participation

ArtPrize 2009 official participation numbers:
  • 1,262 artist entries
  • 159 venues
  • 37,264 registered voters
  • 334,219 total votes cast
  • 200,000 visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The 2009 prizes, totaling to $449,000, were:
  • 1st place: $250,000
  • 2nd: $100,000
  • 3rd: $50,000
  • 4th through 10th: $7,000 each

    Public Vote Top 10

On October 1, the top 10 entries were announced, and their ranking was announced October 8:
  1. Open Water no.24 – Ran Ortner
  2. Imagine That! – Tracy Van Duinen
  3. Portraits – Eric Daigh
  4. The Grand Dance – David Lubbers
  5. Moose – Bill Secunda
  6. Nessie on the Grand – The Nessie Project
  7. Field of Reeds – John Douglas Powers
  8. The Furniture City Sets the Table for the World of Art – Sarah Grant
  9. Ecstasy of The Scarlet Empress – Jason Hackenwerth
  10. winddancer 2 – '''Michael Westra'''

    Surprise Awards

Two previously unannounced awards were handed out:
  • Curators Choice Award : salt & earth – Young Kim, Winston-Salem, N.C.
  • Sustainability Award : The Image Mill: Sustainable Cinema #1 by Scott Hessels

    2010 competition

The 2010 event took place from September 22 to October 10. The event introduced "Exhibition Centers," local cultural institutions featuring professional curation. Each ArtPrize Exhibition Center was required to host voter registration/activation as well as a retail presence. ArtPrize sought to have at least one Exhibition Center in each downtown Grand Rapids neighborhood.

Participation

ArtPrize 2010 official participation numbers:
  • 1,713 artist entries
  • 193 venues
  • 21 countries and 44 U.S. states
  • 44,912 registered voters
  • 465,538 votes cast
  • 250,000 visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The 2010 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $449,000, were:
  • 1st place: $250,000
  • 2nd: $100,000
  • 3rd: $50,000
  • 4th through 10th: $7,000 each

    Public Vote Top 10

On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during the Winners Announcement on October 7:
  1. Cavalry, American Officers, 1921 – Chris LaPorte, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  2. Svelata – Mia Tavonatti, Santa Ana, California
  3. Lure/Wave, Grand Rapids – Beili Liu, Austin, Texas
  4. A Matter Of Time – Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Florida
  5. Vision – David Spriggs, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  6. Helping mom one penny at a time – Wander Martich, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  7. Dancing With Lions – Bill Secunda, Butler, Pennsylvania
  8. salt & earth – Young Kim, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  9. SteamPig – The Steam Pig Experiment Birks, Jensen, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  10. Elephant Walk – Fredrick Prescott, Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Juried Awards

Event organizers announced the addition of four juried awards for ArtPrize 2010. Event organizers noted that, depending on sponsor availability, more juried awards might be added to the program.

Categories and winners

2011 competition

The 2011 event ran from September 21 to October 9. The biggest change to the competition was the addition of an exhibition center dedicated to performance art—St. Cecilia Music Society. The organization was also the recipient of a $100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Participation

ArtPrize 2011 official participation numbers:
  • 1,582 artist entries
  • 164 venues
  • 39 countries and 43 U.S. states
  • 38,811 registered voters
  • 383,106 votes placed
  • 322,000 visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The 2011 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $449,000, were:
  • 1st place: $250,000
  • 2nd: $100,000
  • 3rd: $50,000
  • 4th through 10th: $7,000 each

    Public Vote Top 10

On September 30, the 2010 Top 10 entries were announced, and their rankings were revealed during the Winners Announcement on October 6:
  1. Crucifixion – Mia Tavonatti, Santa Ana, California
  2. The Metaphorist Project – Tracy Van Duinen, Chicago, Illinois
  3. Rain – Lynda Cole, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  4. President Gerald Ford Visits ArtPrize – Sunti Pichetchaiyakul, Thailand and Montana
  5. Rusty: A Sense of Direction/Self Portrait – Ritch Branstrom, Rapid River, Michigan
  6. Grizzlies on the Ford – Llew “Doc” Tilma, Wayland, Michigan
  7. The Tempest II – Laura Alexander, Columbus, Ohio
  8. Ocean Exodus – Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Florida
  9. Under Construction – Robert Shangle, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  10. Mantis Dreaming" – Bill Secunda, Butler, Pennsylvania

    Juried Awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards for ArtPrize 2011. An award dedicated to an outstanding venue was added in 2011. Each juried award winner received $7,000.

Categories and winners

2012 competition

The 2012 ArtPrize competition ran from September 19 to October 7. The event introduced new changes to the ArtPrize Juried Awards program, including category prizes valued at $20,000 and a first-ever $100,000 Juried Grand Prize, decided by panel of three art experts.

Participation

ArtPrize 2012 official participation numbers:
  • 1,517 artist entries
  • 161 venues
  • 46 countries 41 U.S. states and territories
  • 47,160 voters
  • 412,560 votes placed
  • 375,000 visitors to Grand Rapids in 19 days

    Public Vote Awards

The 2012 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $360,000, were:
  • 1st place: $200,000
  • 2nd: $75,000
  • 3rd: $50,000
  • 4th through 10th: $5,000 each

    Public Vote Top 10

The top 10 entries were determined by a record 412,560 votes, and announced on October 10.
  1. Elephants – Adonna Khare, Burbank, Calif.
  2. Song of Lift – Martijn van Wagtendonk, Colbert, Ga.
  3. Rebirth of Spring – Frits Hoendervanger, Detroit, Mich.
  4. Stick-to-it-ive-ness: Unwavering pertinacity; perseverance – Richard Morse, Fennville, Mich.
  5. Lights in the Night – Mark Carpenter and Dan Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  6. Life in Wood – Dan Heffron, Traverse City, Mich.
  7. Origami – Kumi Yamashita, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  8. The Chase – Artistry of Wildlife, Marlette, Mich.
  9. Return to Eden – Sandra Bryant, Lynden, Wa.
  10. City Band – Chris LaPorte, Grand Rapids, Mich.

    Juried Awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $200,000, during ArtPrize 2012 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel.

Juried Grand Prize winner

  • Displacement – Design 99, Detroit, Mich

    Category Award winners

  • Two-Dimensional: Habitat – Alois Kronschlaeger, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Three-Dimensional: More or Less – ABCD 83, Chicago, Ill.
  • Time/Performance: Three Phases – Complex Movements, Detroit, Mich.
  • Urban Space: Flight – Dale Rogers, Haverhill, Ma.
  • Venue: SiTE:LAB – Curator: Paul Amenta, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Ox-Bow Residency: Collective Cover Project – Ann Morton, Phoenix, Ariz.

    Jurors

2013 competition

The 2013 ArtPrize competition ran from September 18 to October 6.

Participation

ArtPrize 2013 official participation numbers:
  • 1,805 artist entries
  • 169 venues
  • 47 countries and 45 U.S. states and territories
  • 49,000 voters
  • 446,850 votes cast
  • 400,000 visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The 2013 prizes, which were decided by public vote, totaled $360,000, were:
  • 1st place: $200,000
  • 2nd: $75,000
  • 3rd: $50,000
  • 4th through 10th: $5,000 each

    Public Vote Top 10

The top 10 entries were determined by a record 446,850 votes, and announced on October 4.
  1. Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore – Ann Loveless, Frankfort, Mich.
  2. Polar Expressed – Anni Crouter, Flint, Mich.
  3. UPlifting – Andy Sacksteder, Port Clinton, Ohio
  4. Dancing With Mother Nature – Paul Baliker, Palm Coast, Fla.
  5. Botanical Exotica a Monumental Collection of the Rare beautiful – Jason Gamrath, Seattle, Wash.
  6. Earth Giant – Benjamin Gazsi, Morgantown, W.V.
  7. Myth-or-Logic – Robin Protz, New Hartford, Conn.
  8. Finding Beauty in Bad Things: Porcelain Vine – Fraser Smith, St Pete Beach, Fla.
  9. Taking Flight – Michael Gard, San Francisco, Calif.
  10. Tired Pandas – Nick Jakubiak, Battle Creek, Mich.

    Juried awards

In addition to awards distributed as a result of a public vote, the organization distributed seven juried awards, totaling $200,000, during ArtPrize 2013 in five categories and a juried grand prize. Each category winner received $20,000. The Juried Grand Prize winner was awarded $100,000. The award was decided by a three-member jury panel.

Juried Grand Prize winner

  • Ecosystem – Carlos Bunga, Barcelona, Spain

    Category Winners

  • Two-Dimensional: Europa and the Flying Fish – Kyle Staver, New York, N.Y.
  • Three-Dimensional: Through the Skies for You – Kevin Cooley / Phillip Andrew Lewis, Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Time/Performance: The Last Post – Shahzia Sikander, New York, N.Y.
  • Urban Space: united.states : an everydaypeople project – J.D. Urban, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Venue: The Fed Galleries @ KCAD, Kendall College of Art and Design – Curator: Michele Bosak, Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Ox-Bow Residency: Erase – Greg Bokor, Beverly, Mass.

    Jurors

Controversy

David Dodde's Fleurs et riviere was an entry that placed magnetic flowers on the Alexander Calder sculpture La Grande Vitesse. After getting complaints, the City of Grand Rapids contacted the Calder Foundation to get their input. Calder's grandson, Alexander S. C. Rower, replied: "The initiative is luckily temporary and reflects an utter lack of understanding and respect of Calder's genius." The city decided to have the flowers removed before the end of the exhibition.

2014 competition

The 2014 ArtPrize competition ran from September 24 to October 12.

Participation

ArtPrize 2014 official participation numbers:
  • 1,536 artist entries
  • 174 venues
  • 41,956 voters
  • 398,714 votes placed
  • 441,000+ visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The public vote determined three $20,000 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $20,000 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize winner

  • Intersections – Anila Quayyum Agha, Indianapolis, Indiana

    Category Award winners

  • Two-Dimensional: Outcry – Gretchyn Lauer, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: Reciprocity – Marc Sijan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Time-Based: Your Move? – Robert Shangle, Sparta, Michigan
  • Installation: Intersections – Anila Quayyum Agha, Indianapolis, Indiana

    Juried Awards

The jury awarded five $20,000 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. There was a tie for the grand prize, so each winner received $100,000.

Juried Grand Prize winners

A first in ArtPrize history, the Grand Prize Jury recognized two outstanding works—splitting the $200,000 Juried Grand Prize.
  • Intersections – Anila Quayyum Agha, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • The Hair Craft Project – Sonya Clark, Richmond, Virginia
This is also the first time the opinions of both the voting public and the jury of art experts converged, awarding a top prize to one piece – Intersections by Anila Quayyum Agha.

Category Award winners

  • Two-Dimensional: The Hair Craft Project – Sonya Clark, Richmond, Virginia
  • Three-Dimensional: Tengo Hambre – Maximo Gonzalez, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Time-Based: respirador – Dance in the Annex, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Installation: Symptomatic Constant – Julie Schenkelberg, Brooklyn, New York
  • Outstanding venue: SiTE:LAB @ The Morton, – Curator: Paul Amenta, Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Jurors

2015 competition

The 2015 ArtPrize competition ran from September 23 to October 11.

Participation

ArtPrize 2015 official participation numbers:
  • 1,649 artist entries
  • 162 venues
  • 35,481 registered voters
  • 422,763 votes cast
  • 438,000+ visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize winner

  • Northwood Awakening – Loveless Photofiber, Frankfort, Michigan

    Category Award winners

  • Two-Dimensional: Northwood Awakening – Loveless Photofiber, Frankfort, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: Greatest Generation/Beta Team/November – Fred Cogelow, Wilmar, Minnesota
  • Time-Based: Whisper – Emily Kennerk, Zionsville, Indiana
  • Installation: REACH and SPLASH – Andy Sacksteder, Gladstone, Michigan

    Juried Awards

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize winner

  • Higher Ground – Kate Gilmore, Queens, New York

    Category Award winners

The category winners were:
  • Two-Dimensional: The Fearless Brother Project Presents – Monroe O'Bryant, Kentwood, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: The Last Supper – Julie Green, Corvallis, Oregon
  • Time-Based: That Was Then – Prince Thomas, Houston, Texas
  • Installation: In Our Element – Ruben Ubiera, Miami, Florida
  • Outstanding venue: SiTE:LAB @ The Rumsey Street Project, – Curator: Paul Amenta, Grand Rapids, Michigan

    2016 Competition

The 2016 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize Eight, took place from September 21 to October 9.

Participation

  • 1,453 artist entries
  • 170 venues
  • 37,433 registered voters
  • 380,119 votes cast
  • 507,000+ visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize Winner

Wounded Warrior Dogs – James Mellick, Milford Center, Ohio

Category Award Winners

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize Winner

The Bureau of Personal Belonging – Stacey Kirby, Durham, North Carolina

Category Award Winners

  • Two-Dimensional: les bêtes - Isaac Aoki, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: Excavations - William Lamson, New York, New York
  • Installation: This Space is Not Abandoned - 912 CollABORATIVE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Time-Based: Search Engine Vision “ISIS” - Eric Souther, Mishawaka, Indiana
  • Outstanding Venue: Split between EVERYTHING IS TRANSFORMED, SiTE:LAB / Rumsey St. Project and This Space is Not Abandoned, 912 Grandville Avenue.

    Jurors

The ArtPrize Eight jurors included:
AwardJurorTitle
Juried Grand PrizeMichelle GrabnerArtist and professor at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Paul HaDirector at the MIT List Visual Arts Center
Eric ShinerSenior Vice President at Sotheby's
Two-DimensionalTina Rivers RyanNew York-based art historian and critic
Three-DimensionalOmar Lopez-ChahoudArtistic Director and Curator of UNTITLED Art Fair, Miami Beach and San Francisco
InstallationDeana HaggagDirector of The Contemporary in Baltimore, Maryland
Time-BasedYesomi UmoluExhibitions Curator at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago
Outstanding VenueSteve DietzFounder, President, and artistic director of Northern Lights.mn in Minneapolis

2017 Competition

The 2017 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize Nine, took place from September 20 to October 8.

Participation

  • 1,346 artist entries
  • 175 venues
  • 43,010 registered voters
  • 384,053 votes cast
  • 522,000+ visitors to Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Public Vote Awards

The public vote determined three $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner. The grand prize winner does not receive $12,500 for their category win.

Public Vote Grand Prize Winner

A. Lincoln – Richard Schlatter, Battle Creek, Michigan

Category Award Winners

  • Two-Dimensional: A. Lincoln - Richard Schlatter, Battle Creek, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: Lux Maximus Fused Glass, Copper, Bronze and Metal - Daniel Oropeza, Costa Mesa, California
  • Installation: Oil + Water - Ryan Spencer Reed, Ludington, Michigan; Richard App, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Time-Based: Red Dirt Rug Monument - Rena Detrixe, Tulsa, Oklahoma

    Juried Awards

The jury awarded five $12,500 category winners and a $200,000 grand prize winner.

Juried Grand Prize Winner

The Heartside Community Meal – Seitu Jones, St. Paul, Minnesota

Category Award Winners

  • Two-Dimensional: Sofía Draws Every Day: Years 2, 3, and 4 - Sofía Ramírez Hernández, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Three-Dimensional: Flint - Ti-Rock Moore, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Installation: Society of 23's Locker Dressing Room - Jeffrey Augustine Songco, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Time-Based: Red Dirt Rug Monument - Rena Detrixhe, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Outstanding Venue: The Fed Galleries @ KCAD, Kendall College of Art and Design – Curator: Michele Bosak, Grand Rapids, Mich.

    Jurors

The ArtPrize Nine jurors included:
AwardJurorTitle
Juried Grand PrizeGaëtane VernaDirector of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto
Christopher ScoatesDirector of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Art Museum in Detroit
Gia HamiltonDirector at Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans
Two-DimensionalMiranda LashCurator of Contemporary Art at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville
Three-DimensionalRachel AdamsSenior Curator of Exhibitions for the University at Buffalo Art Galleries
InstallationAnila Quayyum AghaArtist, Associate Professor of Drawing at Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, and $300,000 Public Vote and Juried Award winner at ArtPrize 2014 for her work Intersections
Time-BasedScott StulenDirector and President of Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa
Outstanding VenueLarry Ossei-MensahNew York-based independent curator and cultural critic, co-founder of ARTNOIR

2018 Competition

The 2018 ArtPrize competition, also known as ArtPrize 10, ran from September 19 to October 7.
Important Dates
ItemDates
Venue RegistrationMarch 5 – April 5
Artist RegistrationApril 16 – June 7
ConnectionsApril 25 – June 28
Volunteer RegistrationOpens early-August
Preview WeekSeptember 12–18
ArtPrize 10September 19 – October 7

Public Vote Grand Prize Winner
The String Project by Chelsea Nix and Mariano Cortez
Category Award Winners - Public Vote
  • Two-Dimensional: The String Project by Chelsea Nix and Mariano Cortez
  • Three-Dimensional: The Phoenix by Joe Butts
  • Time-Based: Moving Experience by #shangled
  • Installation: Sonder by Megan Constance Altieri
Juried Vote Grand Prize Winner
Brown, Carmine, and Blue by Le'Andra LeSeur
Category Award Winners - Juried Vote
  • Two-Dimensional: PULSE Nightclub: 49 Elegies by John Gutoskey
  • Three-Dimensional: 108 Death Masks: A Communal Prayer for Peace and Justice by Nikesha Breeze
  • Installation: Heidelbergology; 2+2=8 by Tyree Guyton Heidelberg
  • Venue: Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives
Independent Award Winners
  • Best Feature Film: Love, Gilda by Lisa D'Apolito
  • Best Short Film: Starry Skies by Sarah Schmidt
  • Hopcat WYCE ArtPrize Song of the Year: Shine by Molly
  • Youth Collaboration Award: More Than Words by Zeeland Public Schools
  • Youth Collaboration Award: Creation: 20 Paneled Public Art by Lakeland Cardinal Collaborative
  • Educator Award: Cities of Silhouettes: A Visual Journal by Missy Dunaway
  • Contemporary Black Art Award: 108 Death Masks: A Communal Prayer for Peace and Justice by Nikesha Breeze
  • Artista Latino Award: THE STRING PROJECT by Chelsea Nix & Mariano Cortez
  • Asian Artist Award: Black Panther by YanFang Inlow
  • Asian Artist Award: Pure Michigan by Huaming Wang
  • Decon + Reuse Vote Award: Abiding in the Shadow by Jeff Best
  • American Civil Liberties Union Award: By Her Own Hand by Lora Robertson
  • Social Action Committee Award: Reverse Alchemy by Anthony Thompson

    2019 Project 1

For 2019, ArtPrize began its "Project" exhibition series, with Project 1 running from September 7 to October 27.
Project 1: Crossed Lines was a series of multi-sited public art exhibitions in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Five international, national, and local artists will create multifaceted installations, urban interventions, and community-oriented projects, exploring the lines that unite and divide a city, and what it means to belong.
Project 1 Artists
  • Skywalks - Downtown GR: Kaleidoscopic by Amanda Browder
  • Community Center - MLK Jr. Park: Kaleidoscopic by Amanda Browder
  • Tanglefoot Facade: Kaleidoscopic by Amanda Browder
  • Rosa Parks Circle: Oracle of the Soulmates by Heather Hart
  • MLK Jr. Park: Oracle of the Soulmates by Heather Hart
  • Louis St. and Monroe Ave., Downtown GR: The Boom and the Bust by Olalekan Jeyifous
  • Tanglefoot Building: Critical Infrastructure by Paul Amenta and Ted Lott

    2021 Competition

The ArtPrize 2021 competition ran from September 16 to October 3.
Public Vote Grand Prize Winner
Before You Go by Christian Reichle and Monica Pritchard
Category Award Winners - Juried Vote
  • Two-Dimensional: Aging Out / 18 years old by John Paul Goncalves
  • Three-Dimensional: Soaked by Holly Ross
  • Time-Based: Art pod by Stephen Smith
  • Installation: Project Unity: Ten Miles of Track in One Day by Hwa-Jeen Na and Yuge Zhou
Independent Awards
  • Contemporary Black Art Awards: Planted by the Sacred Streams of Grace by Brian Whitfield
  • Contemporary Black Art Awards: Ile Itaja ''- Shoppinglist by Olaniyi R. Akindiya Akirash
  • Asian Art Awards: Before You Go by Christian Reichle and Monica Pritchard
  • Asian Art Awards: Paper Cinderella by Michal Overholts
  • Artista Latino Awards: The 20ths of January by Russell Cooper
  • Artista Latino Awards: Guardians of Sacred Space'' by Florencia Clement de Grandprey

    2022 Competition

The ArtPrize 2022 competition ran from September 15 to October 2.
Visitor Favorite Awards
  • 2D Winner: In My Eyes by Florencia Clement de Grandprey
  • 3D Winner: AMERICAN EAGLE by Kasey Wells
  • Installation Winner: Twigg the Forest Dragon by Jennifer Dunahee
  • Time-Based Winner: Embodied-Healing Through Body Art by Kristen Zamora
  • Digital Winner: Urban Arterials by Rob Finch
Award Winners - Juried Vote
  • 2D Winner: For Dorothy Afro Harping by Harold Allen
  • 2D Runner-Up: In Bello by Erica Kuhl
  • 3D Winner: LAST by Mo Jauw
  • 3D Honorable Mention: Embedded by Mark Mennin
  • Installation Winner: Seeking a Pleasant Peninsula by Maddison Chaffer
  • Installation Honorable Mention: Who's Next by Brian Whitfield
  • Time-Based Winner: Fusion
  • Time-Based Honorable Mention: Ineffable Lypophrenia by C. Glass Dance Company
  • Digital Winner: Derivations of a Gothic Arch Part 2 by Gary Mesa-Gaido
  • Digital Honorable Mention: Algorithm + You = Art by Charles Cusack
  • Contemporary Black Art Award: Poetry on Demand - My Poem, Your Topic by William Davis
  • Asian Art Award: Sold to Slaughter by Stacie Tamaki
  • Artista Latino Award: In My Eyes by Florencia Clement de Grandprey
  • ArtPrize Venue Winner: Monroe Community Church
Artist-to-Artist Award
  • Artist-to-Artist Award: Creation, Destruction, Reflection by Brad and Bryan Caviness

    2023 Competition

The ArtPrize 2023 competition ran from September 14 to October 1.

Public Vote and Juried Vote Grand Prize Winner

  • Raining Wisdom by Abdoulaye Conde
  • Award Winners - Public Vote
  • 2nd Place: Tale of Ten Dresses by Rebecca Humes
  • 3rd Place: An Iris Collection of 5 by Peggy Slattery

    Category Award Winners - Juried Vote

  • 2D Winner: Mandy With Orchid by Stephen Brennan
  • 2D Honorable Mention: Ménage by Roger Bruinekool
  • 3D Winner: The Lost Mystics by Kumkum Fernando
  • 3D Honorable Mention: The SpLaVCe Ship by Christopher Blay
  • Installation Winner: The Art of Disruption by DisArt
  • Installation Winner: The Zone of Authenticity by Whitney Pyles
  • Installation Honorable Mention: Gambling on the Horizon by Mandy Cano Villalobos
  • Time-Based Winner: The Future is a Constant Wake by Aryel Jackson
  • Time-Based Honorable Mention: Being here by Rene MG
  • Digital Winner: Body-oddy-oddy-oddy: Destabilizing the Surveilling of Queer Bodies by Eric Souther and Benjamin Rosenthal
  • Digital Honorable Mention: Fascism Killed the Old Gods by Matt Schenk

    Visibility Awards

  • Vanguard Award: #NOMORESTOLENSISTS by Maya James
  • Prism Award: Technophobia by Christopher Shields
  • Originators Award: Serenity by Juan Pimentel
  • Crossroads Award: Isa by Minyoung Kwak
  • Horizontes Award: Caminantes / Wayfarers by Salvador Jimenez-Flores

    Independent Awards

  • Grand Rapids African American Arts & Music Award: Dimensional Dissection by Aidan Gardner
  • Asian Art Award: After Party Guests by Harminder Boparai
  • Artista Latino Award: Identity by Johnny Camacho
  • Grand Rapids African American Arts & Music Award: From a Place of Privilege: A Celebration of the Black Woman by Laura Wilson

    2024 Competition

The ArtPrize 2024 competition ran from September 13 to September 28.

Public Vote Awards

Public Vote Grand Prize

  • Dynamic Sunset by John Katerberg
  • Category Awards - Public Vote
  • 2D Winner: The Prophets by Robert VanderZee
  • 3D Winner: Tut's Tomb by Bruce Gorsline
  • Installation Winner: Reflective Journey by Shirin Abedinirad
  • Time-Based Winner: My Poem Your Topic by Endlesswill
  • New Media Winner: Too Much Information by Bruce Holwerda
  • +Design Winner: Ash desk with drawers by Zak Doezema-Nunez

    Juried Vote Awards

Juried Vote Grand Prize

  • TRAUMA PROJECT by Trauma Project
  • Category Awards - Juried Vote
  • 2D Winner: "Remember who you are." by Jonathan Harris
  • 3D Winner: Old Stories by H. Highwater
  • Installation Winner: marshmallow polypore variant by Samuelle Green
  • Time-Based Winner: My Poem Your Topic by Endlesswill
  • New Media Winner: Me So Calgon by Stafford Smith
  • +Design Winner: Understory by Common Object Studio

    Visibility Awards

  • 456: A Reflection on Fatherhood by Keyon Lovett
  • The Journal Project by Ruth Crowe
  • What Does It Mean To Be Queer? by Isabel Dowell
  • Fragments of Anima 1 & 2 by Chris Pappan
  • Sovereign by Pat ApPaul

    2025 Competition

ArtPrize 2025 will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 18-October 4, 2025.