UK Student Artists Take Home $10,000 in Foundations Scholarships

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2019) — Some of the newest art students at the University of Kentucky were recognized during the Foundations Show Reception held March 28, at Bolivar Art Gallery in the Art and Visual Studies Building. The exhibition, juried by visiting artist Jessica Burke, from University of North Carolina Charlotte, showcased the work of over 100 students at UK School of Art and Visual Studies.

In celebration of the great work being created by these UK student artists, the 10th annual Foundations Exhibition featured pieces by many artists who have never exhibited before. It also recognized some of the best work being done by these students with scholarships totaling $10,000.

The winners and their work selected by juror and UNC Charlotte Assistant Professor and Foundations Director Jessica Burke were:

• "Panic" by Cat Kidman, a digital media design and pre-integrated strategic communication freshman from Prospect, Kentucky, who took first place and a $3,000 grand prize;
• "Obscure Tales" by Vanessa Cordero Liberato, a digital media design junior from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who took second place and a $2,000 prize;
• "Meet the Representative" by Sarah Caputi, a digital media design and pre-integrated strategic communication sophomore from Lake in the Hills, Illinois, who won the Merit Award for Digital Media and a $900 prize;
• "Vivitar Live" by Beatriz Ramos Bouza, an art studio junior from Lexington, who won the Merit Award for Three-Dimensional Form and a $900 prize;
• "Kellie" by Claire Thompson, an art studio sophomore and Lewis Honors College member from Lexington, who won the Merit Award for Two-Dimensional Surface and a $900 prize;
• "Still Life" by Lincoln Young, a digital media design freshman from Bozeman, Montana, who won the Merit Award for Drawing and a $900 prize; and
• "Astronauting" by Jenna Roseman, an art studio junior from Lexington, who won the Merit Award for Lens Arts and a $900 prize.

Honorable mention recognition was presented to digital media design senior Genavieve Melendez, from Princeton, New Jersey, for "Four Elements: Three Transitions Redo."

In addition, two student choice awards were presented to art studio sophomore Ember Kawarada, from Lexington, for "A Tale of the Foreign Wife’s Storm," and digital media design sophomore Andrew Maclin, from Nicholasville, Kentucky, for "A Door." Each winner received a $250 prize.

The Foundations Show ran March 25-28, at Bolivar Art Gallery.

Foundations is a first-year experience for art studio, art education and digital media design majors in the School of Art and Visual Studies. As part of this program, students learn many methods of art making and gain the introductory knowledge of how to add a personal voice to their pieces.

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