Archway Gallery's 17th Annual Juried Exhibition

​Archway Gallery proudly announced the winners of its 17th Annual Juried Exhibition during the opening reception held Saturday, July 12. The exhibition, juried by acclaimed artist and Project Row Houses founder Rick Lowe, features forty-one selected works by local artists. Fifty percent of the sales proceeds goes to Archway’s non-profit partner, Brave Little Company, a Houston-based community theater organization, and the remaining fifty percent goes to the exhibiting artists.

​This year marked a record-setting number of submissions for the gallery’s most anticipated annual exhibition. 226 artists submitted 387 pieces. Liz Conces Spencer, Co-Chair for the exhibition remarked, “We were overwhelmed—in the best way—by the number of submissions this year. The record response is a testament to how deeply connected and vibrant our local arts community is. Each work submitted reflects the vision, depth, and creativity of Houston artists, and we are honored to showcase this talent.” 

​This year’s juror is acclaimed artist and social activist Rick Lowe, best known for his role in the founding of Houston’s Project Row Houses and for his impactful community-based art projects across the U.S. and internationally. His work is included in major museum collections such as the Whitney Museum, the Menil Collection, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. A 2014 MacArthur Fellow and appointee to the National Council on the Arts by President Obama, Lowe has exhibited widely, including participation in Documenta 14 in Athens. He currently serves as a professor of interdisciplinary practice at the University of Houston.

​“Because the work is a representation of the community, I wanted the exhibition to be that as well. How can I find work at the highest level but in different mediums and different processes? It really is an astounding variety in the exhibition. The formal elements of work that people are producing is really incredible. There’s work that is political, there’s serious work, work that makes you laugh. All the work in this show is worthy of being recognized. I think the works make a great exhibition and I’m happy to have played a role in getting it together,” remarked Juror Rick Lowe. 

Award Winners:
 • First Place: Mathieu JN Baptiste for his acrylic, oil and ink on canvas titled Ce Qui Dort en Moi (What Sleeps Within me). Baptiste receives a $500 cash prize and guest artist privileges at Archway Gallery for the month of August.
• Second Place: David Delgado. Pokemon x Oreo Tower. Bronze cast on granite.
• Third Place: Michelle Vo. Resilience. Stained glass.
​• Honorable Mentions: Alessandra Albin, Karla Garcia Burgos, Lennie Caston-Miller, Maddie Casagranda, and Tuong-Phi Le. 

Michelle Vo - Third Place

Mathieu JN Baptiste - First Place

David Delgado - Second Place

Co-Chair Becky Soria added, “Congratulations to all the artists who participated in our annual exhibition, and a heartfelt thanks to our esteemed juror, Rick Lowe, for sharing his vision, time, and expertise.” 
All the artworks are available to view and purchase in Archway's Online Store as well as in the gallery through August 1.