Artist Don Snell, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner,
with Edward Povey, President's Award of Excellence recipient.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Snell
Collectors Circle Award: Ken Hale
President's Award of Excellence: Edward Povey
Service to the Arts Award: Robert Faires
Art Patron of the Year: Mike Chesser
Artist of the Year 2 Dimensional Art: Lance Letscher
Artist of the Year 3 Dimensional Art: Jade Walker
Artist of the Year Photography: Santiago Forero
Artist of the Year Early Career: Carlos Rosales-Silva
Artist of the Year New Media: Ryan Hennessee
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 8th, 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.
