The Bennett Prize

10 finalists announced for $50,000 Bennett Prize for women figurative realist painters‍Fourth iteration of prestigious award names finalists

Pittsburgh, PA - Dec. 2, 2024 - Today 10 women from across the country who paint in the figurative realist style were named finalists for the $50,000 Bennett Prize, the fourth iteration of the largest art award ever offered solely to women figurative realist painters. The winner and a $10,000 awardee, will be named in 2025. 

An all-woman jury of artists, educators and curators selected the 10 finalists from hundreds of entries. Endowed at The Pittsburgh Foundation by art collectors Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, The Prize is designed to propel the careers of women artists. 

“The 10 finalists for The Bennett Prize 4 continue to expand the definition of figurative realism. Their work is indispensable to the art world as it challenges the familiar and raises the bar on the definition of excellence,” said Schmidt.

The winner of the $50,000 award will be announced on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Muskegon Museum of Art. The finalists’ works will remain on view there until August 24 before traveling, with scheduled exhibitions at the Arnot Art Museum (Elmira, NY), Customs House Museum and Cultural Center (Clarksville, TN), The Bo Bartlett Center (Columbus, GA) and Studio Incamminati (Philadelphia, PA). The work of Bennett Prize 3 winner, Shiqing Deng, will be presented in a solo exhibition that will run concurrently with the exhibition of the finalists. 

The 10 finalists, in alphabetical order, are: 

A four-member, all woman jury–which includes artist and educator, Angela Fraleigh; curator at The Art Institute of Chicago, Gloria Groom; artist and educator, Margaret Bowland; and Prize co-founder, Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt--selected the finalists. 

“In a country where meaningful art awards are rare, having one that specifically celebrates women is crucial for narrowing the persistent gap in inequality that still exists. The selection process was challenging but immensely rewarding,” said juror Fraleigh.

The winner of The Bennett Prize will receive $25,000 annually for two years to allow her to devote the time necessary to mount a solo exhibition of her work, which will open at the Muskegon Museum of Art in 2027 and then travel the country. 

“Once again, women figurative realist painters have stepped up to show what they are capable of. The work of the finalists is stunning and is certain to delight audiences around the country as the Rising Voices 4 exhibition travels over the next two years. We thank all participants for their part in making this such a great show and such a successful competition,” said co-founder, Bennett.

The Bennett Prize spotlights women artists who are or seek to become full-time painters, but who have not yet achieved full professional recognition. The Prize is also designed to allow the public to learn more about the creative vision of talented women painters working in the ever popular style of figurative realism. 

“I was surprised at the amazing variety and originality of media, composition and technique among so many artists whose focus is figurative. The sheer numbers of candidates speaks to the status and significance of The Bennett Prize, which is, as far as I know, the ONLY one of its kind to recognize and reward women artists who are dedicated to the human figure. As an art Curator, I was thrilled and humbled to be on the The Bennett Prize jury along with artists and educators, whose insights were so valuable in determining the finalists,” said juror Groom.

Together, the 27 finalists and three winners from The Bennett Prize 1, 2 and 3 have won 19 additional awards, 19 are represented by galleries and they have been featured in over 50 different national publications. They’ve participated in 41 solo shows and 142 group shows, creating more opportunity for the public to view their talent. Many have had residencies and sold pieces to museums and permanent collections.

“The entire Bennett Prize team are avid fans of The Prize winners and finalists from the past six years,” said Schmidt. “We take great delight in witnessing the successes of these talented women as they work to produce, show and sell their works in a demanding environment.”

Bennett and Schmidt, of San Antonio, Texas, endowed a $3 million fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation to ensure The Prize will be awarded every two years in perpetuity. The Prize was announced in 2018 and was developed at the Foundation’s Center for Philanthropy, which used human-centered design principles to help donors define and actualize transformative philanthropic initiatives.

Schmidt and Bennett are among the country’s foremost collectors of figurative realist art and are committed to seeing that talented women painters receive long-overdue recognition, such as solo exhibitions, higher prices for their work, commissions and inclusion in museum and private collections. The new wing at the Muskegon Museum of Art named “The Bennett Schmidt Pavilion” in honor of their gift opens in February of 2025. It doubles the size of the institution, will house the donated paintings “of women by women” from The Bennett Art Collection as well as includes space that will be permanently dedicated to women artists. 

“The Bennett Prize continues to exceed our expectations for elevating the amazing perspectives that women bring to the arts," said Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which manages The Prize program. “The Bennetts deserve special praise for drawing the public's attention to figurative realist painting and the incredible talent that women such as those in this group of finalists show in the genre. The Bennetts and our Center for Philanthropy have provided a blueprint for how donors can partner with community foundations to realize their vision for a more just, creative and beautiful world.”

“One of the most exciting revelations in the process of being a juror was seeing not only the diversity of painting approaches but also what these paintings were reporting about what it means to be a woman at this moment in time. Being a part of giving The Bennett Prize to women has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” shared juror Bowland.

 

More information about the Bennetts and their art collection is at http://www.thebennettartcollection.com.