ArtPrize
September 13-28, 2024
Did you know that the world’s most attended public art event takes place every fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan? Since its inception in 2009, millions of people have visited ArtPrize to see thousands of artworks displayed all over downtown.
ArtPrize 2024 promises continued celebrations of art, inspiration and connection, as organizers brainstorm new ways to engage and inspire artists and visitors. Change is a hallmark of the event, but you can always count on seeing hundreds of diverse works of art, meeting artists from around the world and voting for your favorites to win cash prizes.
Mark your 2024 calendar for Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 28 – and consider booking your hotel now to beat the annual summer rush for rooms. We’ll see you in September!
ArtPrize 2023 in Review
The first year of a new collaborative leadership team behind ArtPrize proved a smashing success. More than one million people visited downtown Grand Rapids for ArtPrize 2023 to view captivating artwork from 950 artists representing 12 countries and 30 states.
Visitors cast more than 50,000 votes in the public portion of the competition, awarding $200,000 to the following artists:
- First Place for $125,000: Abdoulaye Conde’s “Raining Wisdom,” a massive elephant-themed outdoor mural that can still be viewed at 45 Ottawa NW.
- Second Place for $50,000: Rebecca Humes’ “Tale of Ten Dresses,” a collection of wearable art inspired by and made from children’s books.
- Third Place for $25,000: Peggy Slattery's “An Iris Collection of 5,” five oil paintings of the delicate flowers.
Another $100,000 was awarded in a juried competition, in the following categories:
- 2D: Stephen Brennan's “Mandy with Orchid”
- 3D: Kumkum Fernando's “"The Lost Mystics”
- Digital: Eric Souther and Benjamin Rosenthal's “Body-oddy-oddy-oddy: Destabilizing the Surveilling of Queer Bodies”
- Time-Based: Aryel Jackson's “The Future is a Constant Wake”
- Installation (tied): DisArt's “The Art of Disruption” and Whitney Pyles’ “The Zone of Authenticity”
Finally, $75,000 was distributed via the Visibility Awards, introduced to support contemporary artists from underrepresented communities and uplift diverse perspectives:
- Vanguard Award for Contemporary Black Artists: Maya James’ “#NoMoreStolenSist(a)s”
- Originators Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artists: Juan Pimentel's “"SERENITY” on display at Harmony Brewing Company
- Horizontes Award for Contemporary Latino Artists: Salvador Jimenez-Flores’ “Caminantes / Wayfarers”
- Crossroads Award for Contemporary Asian Artists: Minyoung Kwak’s “Isa(Moving)”
- Prism Award for Contemporary Queer Artists: Christopher Shields’ “Technophobia”
Congratulations to the winners – and all the other artists, entertainers, educators, volunteers and visitors who made ArtPrize 2023 special.
Receive admission into many cultural attractions around Grand Rapids as well as additional exclusive discounts with our $20.00 Culture Pass.
Grand Rapids, Michigan offers fun things to do for everyone, including attractions, concerts…
Explore the many dining options of Grand Rapids restaurants, including steakhouses, fine dining…
There are tons of fun events happening in Grand Rapids throughout the year. View the official events…
Grand Rapids is known for great beer but did you know we also make rich coffee, delicious wines…
Make planning your trip to Grand Rapids, MI quick and easy with our visitor information and trip…
Find the perfect hotel in Grand Rapids, MI for your next vacation. Book a hotel room, read reviews…
