FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Please List
Viridian's Annual International 30 Under 30 Juried Exhibition
Juried by Vernita Nemec, Director of Viridian Artists & Independent Curator
May 5-29, 2021
Virtual Opening Reception: Thursday, May 20, 6-7 pm
1st prize – Lua Kobayashi 2nd prize – Julia Jo 3rd prize – Kelsey Gavin
Honorable Mention: Haley Smith & Dallas Frederick
Zea Beckwith * Emily Bertucci * Allison Burch * Brooke Catania * Jenny Choi * Mara Clawson
Stephanie Cobb * Chasity Colón * Hyunhee Doh * Helen Dolan * Alexandra Farber * Jessica Foley
Elisabeth Henley * Yve Holtzclaw * Kenzie Holzinger * Devan Horton * Yasmine Iskander
Christian Johnson * Joseph Kameen * Lauren Karjala * Lucy Le Bohec
Jonathan McHugh * Rena McInerney Olk * Hanna Meshell * Tiffany Nesbit * Nina Samuels
Alexander Shanks * Autumn Nicole Smith * Joe Taveras * Cassidy Westjohn
Chelsea: Viridian Artists Inc. is pleased to present our 5th International Juried Exhibition for Artists Under 30, curated by Vernita Nemec, director of Viridian Artists. The exhibition opens May 5th and continues through May 29th, 2021. The exhibit is virtual only, but in celebration, there will be a virtual reception on Thursday, May 20, 6–7 pm. All are welcome to attend, but reservations must be made by emailing the gallery at viridianartistsinc@gmail.com. We are especially pleased to present cash awards to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of this important competition that brings the art of emerging and under-recognized artists to the attention of collectors and museum curators.
Viridian’s “30 under 30” competitions have been created especially for artists under thirty years of age and the gallery also has a special program for young artists just beginning their careers. Because of the pandemic and the need for expanding financial benefits to young artists, the gallery has expanded their Young Artists program to artists under 35 years of age and to include 35, rather than just 30 young artist winners in future young artist exhibitions.
The 35 artists selected by Nemec represent a wide survey of what concerns and inspires artists and as always, there is much to be concerned about. Many artists have renewed interest in realism, but many are also exploring digital media as well as media previously thought of only as craft. Curiously, many more female artists applied than male artists. Is it still more difficult for female artists to get their work out, despite the recent upsurge of interest in female art or are female artists more willing to risk rejection as they struggle to get their art seen?
Vernita Nemec is not only Viridian’s director, but also an independent curator and an artist long involved in the New York art world. In addition to jurying this competition, she recently juried “Upcycling Detritus” for the Sculptors Alliance, a virtual exhibit of art created with beautiful trash.
As always, Viridian makes a concerted effort to expand the opportunities for outstanding artists’ work to be seen and exhibited. The competition selection as always was difficult, but especially so for the nature of art in our world today encompasses a wide variety of methods, materials and conceptualizations of what art is.
We look forward to sharing this fascinating exhibition of timely contemporary art by artists we are sure you will see more of in the future.
Gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday 12–6PM
For further information, please contact Vernita Nemec the gallery director by phone at 212-414-4040 or by email at viridianartistsinc@gmail.com. Please visit the gallery website at www.viridianartists.com.