The Utah Division of Arts & Museums has been supporting Utah artists since the agency’s founding in 1899. A large part of that support is the Utah Artist Fellowship, one of the highest state-sponsored awards a Utah artist can receive. The Utah Artist Fellowships are $5,000 awards that recognize the careers of Utah artists demonstrating exceptional creativity in their fields. Fellows are chosen by out-of-state, nationally renowned arts professionals. Selections are based on evaluation of application narratives, as well as work samples from the past five years.
Through these fellowships, the agency seeks to support professional and committed artists reaching pivotal moments in their artistic practices, encouraging their career advancement and growth. Candidates are selected through an open application process. All eligible applications receive equal consideration through a two-round review process: a prescreen staff review, and a juror review. This year, five fellows have been selected in the program’s Literary Arts and Performing Arts (Music) disciplines, and eight fellows have been selected in the combined discipline of Visual Arts & Design.
(Aimee Odum, sponsored) | "Searching for Stardust" by Aimee Odum
The fellows were chosen by jurors who are nationally renowned arts professionals. This year’s jurors were Lia Purpura for Literary Arts; Dr. Kristin Tjornehoj for Performing Arts (Music); and Rachel Adams for Visual Arts & Design.
This year’s Literary Arts fellows are Rob Carney, Salt Lake City; Amber Caron, Logan; Christopher Cokinos, Logan; Katharine Coles, Salt Lake City; and Cindy King, St. George. Writing about the work of the fellowship recipients, juror Lia Purpura mentioned the “clean-as-bone language” and the “profound curiosity, ardor, and urgency” of the writing, which she found “soul-enlarging and utterly fresh.”
The Performing Arts (Music) fellows are Heather Bosshardt, Ephraim; Emily Hicks, Salt Lake City; Scott Lippitt, Salt Lake City; Maddie Wilson, Cedar Hills; and Amber Youngberg, Pleasant View. Of reviewing the applicants’ work, juror Dr. Kristin Tjornehoj said, “The sheer breadth of talent represented across the applicant pool made the selection process exceptionally competitive. Utah’s music community is clearly thriving, with artists demonstrating not only technical excellence but also a deep commitment to creative exploration, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with audiences.”
(Scout Invie, sponsored) | "The Wild West Real Estate" by Scout Invie
The Visual Arts & Design fellows are Kellie Bornhoft, Ogden; Cara Despain, Salt Lake City; Scout Invie, Salt Lake City; Laurie Larson, Salt Lake City; Aimee Odum, Salt Lake City; Rebecca Pletsch, Provo; Sara Serratos, Salt Lake City; and Mary Toscano, Salt Lake City. Juror Rachel Adams noted, “I was thrilled to learn more about the wonderful community in Utah, and the breadth and depth of submissions really spoke to a vibrant and deeply engaged artistic community. The artists recognized here demonstrate a rigorous commitment to their practices.”
The Utah Division of Arts & Museums congratulates these artists and looks forward to supporting Utah artists for many years to come.
See more winning artwork below
(Sara Serratos, sponsored) | Acceso y Control by Sara Serratos
(Laurie Larson, sponsored) | "Chair No.2" by Laurie Larson
(Mary Toscano, sponsored) | "Sequencer" by Mary Toscano
(Rebecca Pletsch, sponsored) | "Dark Tide" by Rebecca Pletsch
(Cara Despain, sponsored) | "Test of Faith Orlando" by Cara Despain