PITTSBURGH, April 16, 2020 – Talented women painters looking to take their figurative realist work to the next level are invited to apply for the $50,000 Bennett Prize, the largest offered solely to women painters.
The call for entries runs from April 16 - Oct. 16, 2020. Details are at thebennettprize.org/call-for-entries. Entry is online at www.callforentry.org.
As co-founders of The Bennett Prize for Women “Figurative Realists,” Doctor Schmidt and I often confront confusion about the meaning of “figurative realism,” especially among would-be contestants. “My work is too abstract,” one will say, while another says “the Bennetts only support photorealism,” and a third says “the Bennett Prize seeks only depictions of nudes.” Of course, all of this is incorrect, but you can hardly blame the authors of these observations, as the lack of understanding of the term “figurative realism” is extensive.
Berks County arts organizations have formed a partnership to make sure female artists in every genre, from local to international, are recognized throughout this special year with a Celebration of Women in the Arts. According to David Gross, executive director of the RSO, the idea for the celebration began with the Bennett Prize, created by San Antonio art collectors Steven and Elaine Bennett, whom Gross met and befriended during his years as CEO of the San Antonio Symphony.
Reading Eagle
Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters
The exhibit features artwork by female artists, including the first-ever Bennett Prize winner, Aneka Ingold of Florida.
Michigan Live
Aneka Ingold, a painter whose work explores women’s experiences across time, culture and history, has been named the winner of the first Bennett Prize, the largest ever awarded solely to women painters.
Holland Sentinel
Prestigious prize raises profile of women figurative realist painters
In collaboration with Steven Alan Bennett, Dr. Elaine M. Schmidt, and The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Muskegon Museum of Art is honored to present the Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters, the inaugural award and exhibition for The Bennett Prize.
WKTV Journal
John Dalton reports: "Just a quick little announcement to let you know I will be at the award ceremony for the announcement of the winner of the Bennett Prize in Muskegon on May 2nd. So if you were thinking of coming along to support the ten finalists and the ten honorable mentions and to support the whole initiative in general, well now you have another reason. I’ll be there."
Gently Does It, a podcast by John Dalton
More than 600 painters applied, and now the contest comes down to 10. Aneka Ingold, a Tampa painter, could win the $50,000 Bennett Prize, awarded to women figurative realist painters.
Creative Loafing Tampa
Watch the interview at FACE 2018
