Since 2001, each summer Irving Arts Center has held a non-juried exhibition featuring art created by our Art Connection members. During this show, artwork by students and professional and non-professional artists hangs side by side in the beautiful Main Gallery and the adjoining Focus Gallery. Existing and new Art Connection members were invited to submit up to two works of art for this year’s show being held July 24-August 21 . Awards were given in three categories (Youth, Nonprofessional and Professional) as well as an overall Best of Show. Jennfer Monet Cowley, Artist and Curator of the African American Museum in Dallas served as this year’s awards judge. 

2021 Art Connection Award Winners

Youth (17 years old and younger)

• First Place – Isabella Lucio (Irving), Original Sin, 2021, mixed media, 18 x 24
• Second Place – Shruti Pritmani (Irving), The Wild Extinction, 2021, colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, 14 x 17
• Third Place – Eesha Gundam (Plano), La Route à Suivre, 2021, oil on canvas, 24 x 30
• Challenge Award* – Khushi Parikh (Irving), Happiness (Khushi) is… cakes, cupcakes and more cakes, 2021, yarn/crochet, 24 x 20 x 21
• Honorable Mention – Siri Cherukuri (Coppell), The Side-Eye, 2021, watercolor, 18 x 14
• Honorable Mention – Krisha Shah (Coppell), Strawberry or Tomato?, 2021, digital, 12 x 18

Non-Professional

• First Place – Varshni Karthikeyan (Irving), Beauty in Solitude, 2020, oil on canvas, 20 x 24
• Second Place – Donna E. Ball (Irving), River Flies, 2021, photography
• Third Place – Ishrita Pol (Carrollton), Vanity in Illness, 2021, oil on wood panel, 16 x 20
• Challenge Award* – Suedabeh Ewing (Wylie), Strangest Times – Self Portrait, 2021, watercolor & gold leaf, 14 x 11
• Honorable Mention – Tatyana Bessmertnaya (Plano), Untitled: From the Ink Tree Album, 2021, ink on paper, 5.5 x 7.5
• Honorable Mention – Joseph C. Kobos (Irving), Thrill of Growing Up, Coney Island, 2021, photography, 9.5 x 11.5
• Honorable Mention – Quentin Ochs (Irving), Spill the Wine…, 2020, photography, 30.5 x 25.5

Professional

• First Place – Steven Benezue (Irving), Herd Immunity, 2021, mixed media, 10 ft x 14 in
• Second Place – Fannie Brito (Irving), Intersección, 2020, oil on linen, (diptych), 12 x 12 x 3
• Third Place – Maria Ruenes (Irving), Sloth, 2019, recycled plastic bags, papier mâché, 36 x 18 x 13
• Challenge Award* – Jose Angel Hernandez (Oak Point), Point of Fixation, 2021, mixed media, 25 x 25 x 2
• Honorable Mention – Flores (Irving), #3, 2021, oil & acrylic on canvas and burlap, 48 x 48
• Honorable Mention – Kathy McMahon (Denton), Holey Moley, 2021, acrylic collage, 12 x 12
• Honorable Mention – Stormie Parker (Ft. Worth), Jack, 2020, ceramic, 17.5 x 7 x 7
• Honorable Mention – Junanne Peck (Ft. Worth), Blood Moon Rising, 2020, monotype, 14. 5 x 14. 5

Best of Show

• Journey Harris (Irving), Freesia, 2021, oil on canvas, 36 x 24 

*2021 Design & Thematic Challenge – To See and Be Seen: Art & Identity