The Nineteenth ArtsWorcester Biennial

About this exhibition

In selecting work for the Biennial, juror Beth C. McLaughlin explained that she "[aims] for a balanced group of artworks that represent excellence in execution, creativity in concept, and a multitude of perspectives." She added, "I look for expressions that promise interesting dialogues in the gallery and ones that offer ample opportunities for meaningful audience engagement. I look for entries with a strong point of view, ones that are visually arresting and that ignite curiosity." A complete list of selected artists is below.

The winner of the Sally Bishop Prize will receive a $1,000 cash award and a solo exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum during their 2021-22 season. This partnership, now in its third iteration, provides the winning artist with an important museum credential, while placing their work in conversation with world-renowned artists in WAM’s collection.

The Evelyn Claywell Absher Prize, a new award for abstract artwork, will be given for the first time this year. The Absher family is funding a prize of $1,000 to be given every other year to an artist in ArtsWorcester's Biennial, as a way of honoring Evelyn's memory and her vision.

The Nineteenth Biennial will be on view in our main galleries at 44 Portland Street from June 3 through August 1, 2021. ArtsWorcester gallery hours run Thursdays through Sundays, 12:00 to 5:00 PM, and are free and open to the public. Masks are required indoors. No appointment necessary.

Selected artists for the Nineteenth ArtsWorcester Biennial

Frank Armstrong, West Boylston, MA

Laurie Atchue, Worcester, MA

Maria Babb, Medway, MA

Lisa Barthelson, Rutland, MA

Chelsea Bradway-Francis, Southborough, MA

Jennessa Burks, West Boylston, MA

Siddharth Choudhary, North Andover, MA

Carrie Crane, Boylston, MA

Jean Cummiskey, Hopkinton, MA

Ella Delyanis, Grafton, MA

Fabio Deponte, Petersham, MA

Alice Dillon, Worcester, MA

James Dye, Worcester, MA

Katie Dye, Worcester, MA

Lucille Ela, Spencer, MA

Margaret Emerson, Spencer, MA

Madge Evers, Haydenville, MA

Lillian Favreau, Haverhill, MA

Ralph Ferro, Spencer, MA

Nathan Fiske, Worcester, MA

Lizzie Fortin, Worcester, MA

Lisa Foster, West Brookfield, MA

Sharon Freed, Worcester, MA

Tim Gannon, Shrewsbury, MA

Tom Grady, Holden, MA

Scarlett Hoey, Worcester, MA

Howard Johnson, Worcester, MA

Lynne Johnson, Bolton, MA

Timothy Johnson, Worcester, MA

Deborah Kaplan, Bolton, MA

Patti Kelly, Worcester, MA

Jack Keough, Douglas, MA

Pamela Lawson, Harvard, MA

Madeleine Lord, Dudley, MA

Mark Lore, Gardner, MA

Virginia Mahoney, Brockton, MA

Nathan Manna, Whitinsville, MA

Kat Masella, Manchester, MA

Kristina McComb, Gill, MA

Joshua Meyer, Cambridge, MA

Maggie Miller, Rochdale, MA

Evan Morse, Newton, MA

Kat O’Connor, Worcester, MA

Edmy Ortiz, Worcester, MA

Melissa Parent, Brookfield, MA

Ally Pedemonti, Berlin, CT

Danielle Ray, Millbury, MA

Pamela Redick, Webster, MA

Erin Reid, Oxford, MA

Robin Reynolds, North Brookfield, MA

Pamela Savage, Holden, MA

Patrick Steele, Southborough, MA

Michelle Stevens, Westborough, MA

Suzanne Stumpf, South Natick, MA

Susan Swinand, Shrewsbury, MA

Derrick Te Paske, Belmont, MA

Richard Tranfaglia, Southborough, MA

Margaret Wild, Worcester, MA

Jay Wu, Franklin, MA

Mark Zieff, Sudbury, MA
 

With support from

ArtsWorcester exhibitions are sustained in part by the generous support of the C. Jean and Myles McDonough Charitable Foundation.