AVAA hosted its third Austin Visual Arts Awards at the AT&T Executive Conference Center on November 15th, 2012. The event, led by Master of Ceremonies Carla Stanmyre McDonald (YNN’s Arts Minute host), was a gathering of some of the most influential people in the Austin visual arts scene. The presenters included Umlauf Sculpture Garden’s Executive Director Nelie Plourde, Austin Chronicle Arts Editor Robert Faires, University of Texas Professor of Visual Art Studies Dr. Christopher Adejumo, and Austin Arts Commissioner Bruce Willenzik. Award winners, chosen by gallery owners, museum staff, art writers, etc., were presented with bronze medals designed by sculptor Bob Coffee.

2012 Austin Visual Arts Awards Winners

Lifetime Achievement - Sam Coronado (pictured to the right)

President’s Award of Excellence - Jack White

Service to the Arts Award - Bob Coffee

Collectors Circle Award - John Christensen
Artist of the Year, New Media - Wura-Natasha Ogunji
Artist of the Year, Early Career - Katie Rose Pipkin
Artist of the Year, Photography- Barry Stone
Artist of the Year, Printmaking - Miguel Aragon
Artist of the Year, 3-Dimensional Art - Michael A. Garcia
Artist of the Year, 2-Dimensional Art - Leah Haney


The 2012 finalists were as follows:

Artist of the Year - 2D
Werllayne Nunes
Hector Hernandez
Caroline Wright

Artist of the Year - 3D
James Edward Talbot
Jamie Panzer
Margaret Meehan
John A. Maisano

Artist of the Year - Photography and Printmaking
Mike Osborne
William Hundley
Carol Hayman
Eleanor Droll

Artist of the Year - New Media Arts
Ivete Lucas
Ezra Masch
Robert Melton

Artist of the Year - Early Career
Ink Tank Collective
Colin Doyle


Collectors Circle Award
Lawrence McFarland
Ishmael Soto
Claude van Lingen
Catherine Lee

 

Austin Visual Arts Awards Winners 2010: AT&T Center

Artist Don Snell, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, 
with Edward Povey, President's Award of Excellence recipient.

In an effort to recognize Austin’s top artists for their achievements in the field, and to expand, promote, and document Austin’s role as a leading arts destination, the Austin Visual Arts Association, in conjunction with the arts industry, launched the second Austin Visual Arts Awards on December 8^th, 2010, with a cocktail gala at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. The event paid tribute to the many noteworthy Austin artists who have earned a place in history, as well as to our rising contemporary artists. Dozens of art industry organizations — including museums, galleries, studios and professional associations — participated in the selection process to honor Austin's leading artists. A 16-member nominating committee nominated more than 100 qualified artists industry-wide. Only a handful made it to the final round. Of those, 10 individuals took home the prestigious Fearing Award.

The evening provided entertainment, a cocktail reception, and a networking event to get to know the local talent. Winners were presented by notables in the art scene and given a “Fearing” Award, a bronze metal designed by sculptor Bob Coffee, named after last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner William Kelly Fearing. AVAA also awarded “Fearings” to the Artist of the Year for 2D, Photography/Printmaking, 3D/Mixed Media, New Media, Early Career, as well as a Collectors Circle Award for career artists who consistently create outstanding series of works, and special awards for the Service to the Arts and Arts Patron of the Year categories. A Lifetime Achievement award was presented to this year’s most notable selection, Don Snell.

Please see article in the Austin Chronicle:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:1127560

The 2009 Austin Visual Arts Inaugural Award Winners

Artist of the Year 2 Dimensional Art: Erin Curtis

Artist of the Year 3 Dimensional Art: Beili Liu

Artist of the Year Photography: Roberto "Bear" Guerra

Artist of the Year New Media: Michael Smith

Heather Tolleson, Early Career Artist 

Artist of the Year Early Career: Heather Tolleson

Collectors Circle Award: Bob "Daddy-O" Wade

Service to the Arts: Jana Swec, Shea Little, Joseph Phillips for East Austin Studio Tour

President's Award of Excellence: Will Klemm, Roi James

Arts Patron of the Year: Becky Beaver

Lifetime Achievement: Kelly Fearing

Lifetime Achievement in Memoriam: Robert Dale Anderson

Lifetime Achievement in Memoriam: Michael Frary and Peggy Frary

Austin Chronicle: http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2009-12-18/930056/