XL CATLIN ART PRIZE TRAVELING EXHIBITION

San Francisco Art Institute will be the first venue in a series of three to present works from 40 student artists selected as finalists for the XL Catlin Art Prize. SFAI is happy to join in the XL Catlin Art Prize’s mission to strengthen the profile of figurative art-making in the United States and provide a valuable platform for emerging artists. The XL Catlin Art Prize in the US builds on a 10-year legacy of the XL Catlin Art Prize in the UK which recognized young artists through a prestigious London exhibition and catalog publication. The prize established a reputation as an insightful overview of emerging talent.

Over 700 submissions were received from 140 different schools, both undergraduate and graduate programs. The 40 works in the exhibition, which include paintings, drawings, prints, tapestries and other media, were chosen by an exhibition jury comprised of Ian Alteveer (Metropolitan Museum of Art) Jennie Goldstein (Whitney Museum), Laura Hoptman (Museum of Modern Art), and Kara Vander Weg (Gagosian Gallery). Additionally, SFAI Painting Chair and Associate Professor Brett Reichman served as a regional juror for artwork submissions from the West Coast.

The shortlisted artists are enrolled at 24 different schools and range in age from 19 to 27. The artists hail from four countries and 19 states. The focus of the XL Catlin Art Prize reflects the reemergence of figurative art in the contemporary art world and seeks to support the next generation of American artists. Prize juror Jennifer Schipf of XL Catlin said, “Following ten successful years of holding the competition in the UK, the Prize gives us the perfect platform to highlight new artists and provides a unique insight into emerging talent in the US.”

Two SFAI students have been selected as finalists for the XL Catlin Art Prize and will be included in the traveling exhibition. Eunice Liu is a second year MFA student. She received a post baccalaureate degree from SFAI and is also a participating artist in the Clyde & Co. Art Award exhibition, opening October 2018. Kennedy Morgan is a sophomore in SFAI’s BFA program in painting. She was awarded the Hart Lipton Art Supplies Prize in Spring 2018 by the SFAI Painting Department.

Following its SFAI iteration, the show will travel to Chicago where it will be on view at Linda Warren Projects from November 3 – 8. The tour finishes in New York City at the New York Academy of Art with an exhibition on view from November 21 – 29. The first prize and second prize winners will be announced at the closing reception on Wednesday, November 28. The Prize also includes an audience award, to be selected via Instagram. Beginning on August 12, individual works will be posted to XL Catlin Art Prize’s Instagram account (@xlcatlinartprize) every 48 hours until all have been shown and the work with the most “likes” on the platform will win $1,500. Be sure to log in and cast your votes!