2023 Columbus Arts Festival Announces More Than 225 Exhibiting Artists
For immediate release
April 4, 2023Contact: Jami Goldstein
jgoldstein@gcac.org
(614) 221-8492
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Notable local and national artists representing 32 states and the province of Ontario will exhibit and sell their work at the 2023 Columbus Arts Festival, produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) and presented by the American Electric Power Foundation, June 9-11 on the Columbus downtown riverfront.
“We’re thrilled to see the 2023 Festival taking shape as we welcome our slate of exhibiting artists from all over the country,” said Alexis Perrone, Arts Festival director. “Year after year, we’re impressed by the outstanding quality of their work, and I think Festival-goers will be delighted to re-connect with the many returning artists and meet many new faces coming this year.”
Nine of the 2022 award-winning artists are returning this year: Jeanne Akita of North Richland Hills, TX (fiber); Thomas Bothe of Washington, PA (ceramics); Niko Culevski of Mukilteo, WA (fiber); Penny Dobson of Northport, AL (2D mixed media); Benjamin Lamb of Columbus, OH (3D mixed media, 43224); Nick Molignano of Oneonta, NY (wood); Zach Vincent of Columbus, OH (leather, 43214); Paige Whitcomb of Springfield, MO (photography & digital photography); and Richard Wilson of Greenville, NC (drawing).
More than 50 artists from the state of Ohio will participate in 2023’s Festival. In addition to Lamb and Vincent, central Ohio artists include: Mary Barczak of Columbus (painting, 43222); Michael Bonardi of Columbus (jewelry, 43206); Gabriel Guyer of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43224); Jeff Kuhlman of Columbus (photography, 43220); Camille Martin of Columbus (painting, 43201); Kim and Katherine McClelland of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43206); Rachel and David McFarlane of Reynoldsburg (wood, 43068); Cody Miller of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43224); Kate Morgan of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43224); Noah Mynes of Lewis Center (wood, 43035); Evangelia Philippidis of Grove City (printmaking, 43123); Rebecca Rea of Columbus (ceramics, 43220); Joshua Schottenstein of Columbus (ceramics, 43201); Angela Stiftar of Columbus (printmaking, 43215); Leah Storrs-Fisher of Columbus (printmaking, 43206); Kaname Takada of Upper Arlington (ceramics, 43221); and Matt Tisdale of Westerville (painting, 43081).
In addition to the established artists who exhibit, the Columbus Arts Festival features artists who were selected by the jury panel to participate in the Emerging Festival Artist program. Created in 2011, the Emerging Festival Artist program is for artists who have limited or no experience exhibiting at national festivals. In order to be eligible, artists must be residents of Franklin or the surrounding counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union. In addition to a lower booth fee, Emerging Festival Artists participate in two artist bootcamps to learn about booth layout, décor, pricing and best selling practices.
Eighteen central Ohio artists were invited to take part in the Emerging Festival Artist program this year: Miriam Baranov of Columbus (painting, 43207); Crystal Blake of Orient (2D mixed media, 43146); Brittany Cosgrove of Columbus (painting, 43205); Douglas Daniels of Marysville (digital art, 43040); Nicole Derifield-West of Columbus (3D Mixed Media, 43224); Dan Gerdeman of Pickerington (painting, 43147); Glenn Gustafson of Columbus (ceramics, 43204); Jaiymie Kiggins of Lancaster (sculpture, 43130); Sara Krivicich of Columbus (painting, 43228); Juhi Iodha of Lewis Center (fiber, 43035); Amanda McGee of Galena (painting, 43021); Brionna Mendoza of Columbus (fiber art, 43202); Brad Noble of Columbus (3D Mixed Media, 43205); Emily Sekerak of Newark (printmaking, 43055); Anna Sokol of Columbus (2D mixed media, 43209); Emily Strange of Columbus (painting, 43206); Ellen Thomas of Columbus (painting, 43214); and Evan Williams of Columbus (digital art, 43232).
In total, nearly 225 artists, including the Emerging Festival Artists, were selected from more than 800 applicants through a blind jury process. To apply, artists submitted digital images of their artwork and booth set-up through ZAPPlication™. A jury of art experts reviewed the entries, identified only by number, and selected the work based on merit and quality, as well as booth presentation.
See the festival’s Artist Gallery at columbusartsfestival.org/visit/artist-gallery.
Festival Hours: Friday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artist booths close at 9 p.m.; artists have the option to stay open later.)
To volunteer at the Columbus Arts Festival, please go to columbusartsfestival.org/engage/volunteer/.
For more information on the Columbus Arts Festival, call (614) 221-8625 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.
Download the Columbus Arts Festival app through the Apple app store or Google Play at guidebook.com/app/cafg/.
For a selection of high-res images, visit the Festival’s press media page.
The Columbus Arts Festival is produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The 2023 Columbus Arts Festival is presented by the American Electric Power Foundation. Additional sponsors and partners include Art for Life, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Battelle, Cardinal Health, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, COSI, Deloitte, Encova, Graeter’s, High Bank Distillery, Holiday Inn Downtown, Hotel LeVeque, Huntington, IGS Energy, JP Morgan Chase, The Junto, King Business Interiors, ML Concessions, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, OSA Technology Partners, Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust, Pepsi, Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Rhinegeist, Toyota, The Westin Great Southern Columbus, White Castle and Whole World Lemonade. Media sponsors include ABC6/FOX28, CD92.9, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor, Ohio Magazine, Orange Barrel Media, RSVP, WCBE, WOSU Public Media and WSNY/Mix 107.9.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the city of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University. There are no funds from the city of Columbus, Franklin County or Ohio Arts Council used to support the production of the Columbus Arts Festival.
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