On October 23rd the winners of the National Portrait Gallery's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009 were announced. With over 3,000 works submitted "a jury of experts chose forty-nine works of art in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, video and new media, and photography. They are as diverse as America and represent many stylistic approaches. The grand prize winner received a $25,000 award and will be given a commission to create a portrait of a notable living American for the Portrait Gallery's permanent collection". First place went to Dave Woody of Fort Collins , Colorado for his photograph Laura.
Among those 49 artists chosen several fellow women painting women were finalists. We'd like to send out a heart felt congratulations to all the artists who were included and especially to (in no particular order):
Margaret Bowland,
Gaela Erwin,
Jenny Dubnau,
Anna Killian, and
Kate Sammons,
"Finalists for the 2009 competition were chosen in early May, and the winners were announced at the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Awards Celebration Thursday, October 22. In addition, one exhibiting artist will win the People’s Choice Award, in which visitors to the exhibition, both online and in the gallery, may cast a vote for their favorite of the forty-nine finalists. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will close January 18, 2010." Click here to cast your vote. The exhibition will remain on view at NPG in Washington, DC until August 22, 2010.