(WEST BEND, WISCONSIN) – Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) announces the recipients of the 2024 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Award (WVAAA). Recognizing significant contributions to the visual arts of the state, the Achievement Awards are presented biennially to individuals and organizations. The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 14, 1:00–3:00 at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend.
The three founding organizations—the Museum of Wisconsin Art, the Wisconsin Visual Artists, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters—collaborate biennially to recognize exceptional educators, writers, visual artists, exhibitions, and advocates in our creative communities. A ten-person nominations committee convenes to review open nominations and select the recipients in seven categories.
2024 Award Categories and the Honorees:
Legacy Awards
Carol Emmons and Tory Folliard
Educator Award (K–12)
Daniel Klewer
Educator Awards (College/University)
Kristy Deetz
Arts Writing Award
Tom Lidtke and Annemarie Sawkins, for A Creative Place: The History of Wisconsin Art
Exhibition Awards
Portrait Society Gallery for Art Against the Odds: Wisconsin Prison Art (2023), co-curated by PSG Director Debra Brehmer and Gallery Manager, Paul Salsieder in collaboration with Wisconsin’s incarcerated artists
Museum of Wisconsin Art for Legends of Drag: Portraits by Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus (2022), curated by Assistant Curator Ally Wilber in collaboration with artists Harry James Hanson, Devin Antheus, and America’s legendary drag queens
Community Arts Advocate Award
David Wells
Emerging Artist Award
Phoenix Brown
The 2024 nominations committee included Pat Frederick, Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Amy Moorefield, Rafael Salas, Fred Stonehouse, Christine Styles, and Della Wells, as well as Jody Clowes, Ally Wilber, and Laurie Winters.
Recipient bios follow. Previous winners include Jack Damer, Freida High Wasikhongo Tesfagiorgis, Frank Juárez, Karin Wolf, Rae Minoka Skenandore (Yehsani>saks), Debra Brehmer, Leslie Vansen, and the John Michael Kohler Art Preserve.
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS CEREMONY
Sunday, April 14, 2024 | 1:00—3:00
Awards at 2:00
Open to the public, free to attend
SUPPORT
The WVAAA is made possible through the generous support of the Museum of Wisconsin Art, all three chapters of the Wisconsin Visual Artists, and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Art & Letters.
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