Some of UK’s Youngest Artists Win Awards at Foundations Show

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 1, 2018) — Some of the youngest art students from the University of Kentucky were recognized during the Foundations Show Reception held in late March, at Bolivar Art Gallery in the Art and Visual Studies Building. The exhibition, juried by visiting artist Emily Sullivan Smith, from the University of Dayton, showcased the work of over 150 students at UK School of Art and Visual Studies.

In celebration of the great work being done by UK’s youngest student artists, the ninth annual Foundations Exhibition featured art by many artists who have never shown work before. It also recognized some of the best work being done by these students with thousands of dollars of scholarship money.

The winners and their work were selected by juror and Assistant Professor of Foundations and Foundations Coordinator Emily Sullivan Smith, of University of Dayton Department of Art and Design. Those winners were:

• "Old Souled," by Wes Rankin, an art studio and Lewis Honors College sophomore from Lexington, which took first place and a $3,000 grand prize;
• "Origins," by Sierra Barbour, an art studio junior from Lexington, which took second place and a $2,000 prize;
• "Work and Shop," by Benjamin Byrum, a digital media and design junior from Franklin, Kentucky, which won a Merit Award and a $900 prize;
• an untitled work, by Ellie O'Neill, a digital media and design junior from Lexington, which won the Merit: 3-D Form Award and a $900 prize
• "In Our Tiny Heart," by Alexandra Wilcutt, a digital media and design freshman from Lexington, which won a Merit: 2-D Surface Award and a $900 prize;
• "Vanitas with Rooster," by Benjamin DiMaio, an art studio junior from Louisville, Kentucky, which won a Merit: Drawing Award and a $900 prize;
• "Blend; Bleed," by Graham Brosius, a digital media and design junior from Fishers, Indiana, which won a Merit: Lens Award and a $900 prize; and
• "Digital Art, Space and Time," by Tatyana Ashby, a digital media and design sophomore from Louisville, which won a Merit Award and a $900 prize.

In addition, two student choice awards were presented to Alexandra Wilcutt and Benjamin Byrum for garnering the most student votes for their work.

The Foundations Show ran March 23-29, at Bolivar Art Gallery.

The UK School of Art and Visual Studies, at UK College of Fine Arts, is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art education, art history and visual studies, art studio, and digital media and design.