#United States #Grand Rapids #ArtPrize 2025 #Creative Awards

ArtPrize 2025 Touted as a Celebration of Art and Community

ArtPrize 2025, the renowned open international art competition, wrapped up its 16-day celebration on October 4, 2025. The event transformed downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, into a vibrant hub of creativity, featuring an astonishing 931 entries from around 1,100 artists hailing from 39 states and 18 countries. With over $7.4 million awarded to artists since the event's inception in 2009, this year brought a fresh wave of ideas and talents to the forefront.

The competition drew in more than 118,000 votes cast by the public for the Public Vote Awards. This year's event emphasized the duality of artistic expression by combining popular opinion with expert assessments from a panel of six jurors who selected the Juried Awards. The intersection of community involvement and artistic brilliance was palpable, reflecting the essence of ArtPrize.

Public Vote Award Highlights

The Grand Prize, valued at $100,000, went to Mark Lewanski for his mesmerizing piece, Arras, displayed at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Lewanski's glass installation captivated viewers with its intricate weaving and radiant luminosity, ultimately earning the highest vote count among all participants.

Category Winners

• - 2D: The Forest by Robert VanderZee – Exhibited at DeVos Place Convention Center.
• - 3D: Who's Adopting Who by Andy Sacksteder – Featured at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
• - Installation: The Big Joyful Installation by Jax Kalin – Located at Biggby Coffee.
• - Time-Based: Robin Williams: A Living Portrait by Adam Bock – Shown at DeVos Place Convention Center.
• - New Media: Aqua Limina by Yiou Wang – Presented at Aroma Labs.
• - +Design: Morrigan by Blake Merkel – Displayed at The Morton (formerly G.R. Ford Museum).

Juried Awards

The Juried Grand Prize, also worth $100,000, was awarded to Scraps, a collaborative effort by Camille Steverson and Kaitlynn Fitzpatrick, shown at the BioPhilia Gallery. This innovative piece utilized found materials, crafting a narrative rich in discussions of memory, sustainability, and shared identity.

Additional Category Winners

• - 2D: Innerland by Tania Scheglova (Synchrodogs) – Displayed at the Hermitage at Diamond.
• - 3D: Persist by Cameron Stalheim – Found at Sixth Street Park.
• - Installation: Verdantine Tabernacle by Melissa Webb – Showcased at BioPhilia.
• - Time-Based: Women's Work by Renee Dempsey – Exhibited at The Art of Life Studio Gallery NOW.
• - New Media: Moment by Dave Ryan – Shown at Western Michigan University - Resonant Prismatic Galleries.
• - +Design: Manufactured Memory: Ornament, Manufacturing, and the Architecture of Touch by Austin Mitchell & Will Wang (Voldt Lab) – Found at SHINOLA.

Special Recognition with Visibility Awards

In a commendable initiative to support diverse artists, five Visibility Awards were granted, each worth $10,000. These awards spotlit exceptional works by artists from various backgrounds, ensuring representation remains at the forefront of ArtPrize. Selected pieces include:

• - TZOMPANTLI: Mexico en peligro de extinción by Gennaro Garcia
• - Sarmik: Beneath The Skin by Binhy
• - Reporting from the Ghost Cities of the Metaverse: Decentraland by Sub Net
• - Two Hundred Forty Nine: by Richard Dysard II
• - Operation G.R.A.M.: Grannies Raid an Art Museum by Elijah Haswell

About ArtPrize

ArtPrize is not only a competition; it's a celebration and a dialogue platform for artists from various corners of the world. The aspect of public voting combined with the input from experts ensures a holistic approach to recognizing artistic achievement. The event continues to grow in attendance and participation, contributing significantly to the arts community. For a complete list of 2025 award recipients and more information, individuals can visit artprize.org.