2024 Columbus Arts Festival Announces More Than 250 Exhibiting Artists

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Notable local and national artists representing 33 states and the province of Ontario will exhibit and sell their work at the 2024 Columbus Arts Festival, produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) and presented by the American Electric Power Foundation, June 7-9 on the Columbus downtown riverfront.

“We’re thrilled to see another robust lineup of exhibiting artists taking shape for the 2024 Festival,” said Alexis Perrone, Arts Festival director. “We’re once again set to welcome outstanding artists from all over the country, as well as a full slate of last year’s award-winners and the largest Emerging Festival Artist class ever. I think Festival-goers will be excited to see favorite returning artists as well as a number of new faces.”

Ten of the 2023 award-winning artists are returning this year: Jonah Ballard of Goodyear, AZ (painting); Lee Galusha of Chicago, IL (2D mixed media); Luis Gonzalez of Miami, FL (wood); Miranda Heward of Stevensville, MI (drawing); Jaiymie Kiggins of Lancaster, OH (sculpture); H.C. Porter of Vicksburg, MS (2D mixed media); Emily Sekerak of Newark, OH (printmaking); Zach Vincent of Columbus, OH (leather); Evan Williams of Columbus, OH (digital art); and Richard Wilson of Greenville, NC (drawing).

More than 60 artists from the state of Ohio will participate in 2023’s Festival. In addition to Kiggins, Sekerak, Vincent and Williams, central Ohio artists include: Chelsea Bernardo of Columbus (2D mixed media, 43212); Michael Bonardi of Columbus (jewelry, 43206); Emily Cline of Columbus (ceramics, 43224); Heidi Clous of Blacklick (jewelry, 43004); Scott Creed of Galloway (3D mixed media, 43119); JD Davison and JD Shipengrover of Upper Arlington (jewelry, 43221); Brian Duran of Columbus (painting, 43204); Bryan Fumo of Hilliard (glass, 43026); Amy Haggard of Columbus (painting, 43229); Ila Catherine Hofacker of Columbus (2D mixed media, 43235); Anne Holman and Jen Townsend of Columbus (jewelry, 43212); Andrea Kaiser of Columbus (jewelry, 43214); Jeff Kuhlman of Columbus (photography, 43220); Benjamin Lamb of Columbus (3D mixed media, 43224); Kim and Katherine McClelland of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43206); Rachel and David McFarlane of Reynoldsburg (wood, 43068); Amanda McGee of Galena (painting, 43021); Kate Morgan of Columbus (2D Mixed Media, 43224); Noah Mynes of Lewis Center (wood, 43035); Said Oladejo-Lawal of Columbus (painting, 43229); William Ortman of Columbus (glass, 43230); Evangelia Philippidis of Grove City (printmaking, 43123); Rebecca Rea of Columbus (ceramics, 43220); Jim Siemer of Columbus (painting, 43228); Angela Stiftar of Columbus (printmaking, 43215); Kaname Takada of Upper Arlington (ceramics, 43221); and Zach Van Horn of Reynoldsburg (painting, 43068).

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. The Emerging Festival Artist program is supported by the Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust.

Twenty-two central Ohio artists were invited to take part in the Emerging Festival Artist program this year: Sara Akbarian-Tefaghi of New Albany (painting, 43054); Abigail Elise Baker of Grove City (painting, 43123); Mark Bobulski of Columbus (wood, 43227); Arris’ Cohen of Columbus (painting, 43222); Jacob Dilley of Westerville (photography, 43081); Eric Fortune of Columbus (painting, 43202); Katerina Fuller of Westerville (2D mixed media, 43081); Hilary Hilario of Columbus (leather, 43202); Nikki Hobensack of Columbus (painting, 43220); Niharika Jetty of Lewis Center (painting, 43035); Dane Khy of Columbus (2D mixed media, 43124); Megen Leigh of Westerville (painting, 43081); Jane Martin of Columbus (2D mixed media, 43215); Dre McLeod of Columbus (fiber, 43202); Ashley Miller of Columbus (ceramics, 43202); Craig Murdick of Columbus (photography, 43221); Erika Pickrell of Columbus (drawing, 43214); Hassan Qureshi of Columbus (painting, 43215); Jake Rathkamp of Columbus (printmaking, 43203); A.J. Roberts of Columbus (glass, 43227); Daniel Rona of Hilliard (sculpture, 43026); and Alexandra Valentino of Delaware (painting, 43015).

In total, more than 250 artists, including the Emerging Festival Artists, were selected from 855 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 7 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 9 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) 221-8531 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.

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 2024 Columbus Arts Festival is presented by the American Electric Power Foundation. Additional sponsors and partners include Bank of America, Bath and Body Works Foundation, Battelle, COSI, Downtown Columbus, Edwards Communities, Encova, G&J Pepsi, Go Brewing, Graeter’s, High Bank Distillery, Holiday Inn Downtown, Hotel LeVeque, Huntington, IGS Energy, The Junto, King Business Interiors, MLS All-Star Summer Roadshow, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, OSA Technology Partners, Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Rhinegeist, Sonesta Columbus Downtown, South Wind Motel, Toyota, Visit Savannah, The Westin Great Southern Columbus, White Castle and Whole World Lemonade. Media sponsors include ABC6/FOX28, Columbus Radio Group, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor, Ohio Magazine, Orange Barrel Media, WCBE and WOSU Public Media.

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. None of these funds are used for the production of the Columbus Arts Festival.

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