October 6, 2025

ArtPrize 2025 Awards Celebrate Artistic Talent in Grand Rapids

News Summary

Grand Rapids hosted the ArtPrize 2025 awards ceremony, honoring over 14 artists with prize money awarded through public voting and juror selection. The event, showcasing 930 artists at 155 venues, engaged the public in appreciating diverse artistic expressions. Mark Lewanski won the Public Vote Grand Prize for his glass sculpture ‘Arras.’ The competition, a significant cultural event since 2009, fosters community engagement in the arts, with the final day to view the showcased works on October 4.

Grand Rapids hosted the ArtPrize 2025 awards ceremony on Friday night at Studio Park, celebrating the creativity of more than 14 artists who received prize money awarded through both public votes and a panel of jurors. The event, which kicked off on September 18, will conclude on October 4, 2025, showcasing a vibrant array of talent and engaging the public in the arts.

This year’s ArtPrize featured 930 artists showcased at 155 venues across downtown Grand Rapids and its surrounding neighborhoods. A total of over 110,000 votes were cast during the event, marking one of the highest total votes recorded in the past decade.

Mark Lewanski emerged victorious in the public voting category, winning the Public Vote Grand Prize of $100,000 for his intricate woven glass sculpture titled “Arras,” which is displayed at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. “Arras” emphasizes the interconnectedness of society, being crafted from thousands of glass fibers.

Public Vote Awards

Other notable winners in the public voting categories include:

Public Vote 2D award of $10,000 went to Robert VanderZee for “The Forest” at the DeVos Place Convention Center.
Public Vote 3D award of $10,000 was awarded to Andy Sacksteder for “Who’s Adopting Who” at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
The Big Joyful Art Installation by Jax Kalin secured the Public Vote Installation award of $10,000 at Biggby Coffee.
Robin Williams: A Living Portrait by Adam Bock won the Public Vote Time-Based award of $10,000 at the DeVos Place Convention Center.
Aqua Limina by Yiou Wang was awarded the Public Vote New Media award of $10,000 at The Aroma Labs.
Morrigan, created by Blake Merkel, won the Public Vote +Design award of $10,000 at The Morton.

Juried Awards

The Juried Grand Prize of $100,000 was awarded to Second Vibes for their work “Scraps”, displayed at BioPhilia Gallery. Other prominent winners in the juried categories include:

Tania Scheglova Synchrodogs received the Juried 2D award of $10,000 for “Innerland” at Hermitage at Diamond.
Cameron Stalheim‘s “Persist” won the Juried 3D award of $10,000 at Sixth Street Park.
Melissa Webb was recognized with the Juried Installation award of $10,000 for “Verdantine Tabernacle” at BioPhilia.
Renee Dempsey‘s “Women’s Work” earned the Juried Time-Based award of $10,000 at The Art of Life Studio NOW Gallery.
Dave Ryan won the Juried New Media award of $10,000 for “Moment” at Western Michigan University.
Voldt Labs‘ “Manufactured Memory: Ornament, Manufacturing, and the Architecture of Touch” won the Juried +Design award of $10,000 at Shinola.

ArtPrize History and Significance

Since its launch in 2009, ArtPrize has established itself as a major cultural event, attracting artists and visitors from across the country. The competition fosters community engagement with the arts and promotes local artists’ work in an accessible public space. The final day for the public to view the art showcased during this year’s competition is Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Ferris State University’s ‘Make it Here’ Billboard Campaign Launches for ArtPrize
ArtPrize 2025 Showcases Diverse Talent in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Hosts ArtPrize Halftime Show and Voting Finalization
Artist Roald Bradstock Unveils LA Rising Installation
ArtPrize Returns to Grand Rapids with Over 900 Entries
ArtPrize 2025 Set to Transform Grand Rapids
ArtPrize Festival Set to Transform Grand Rapids
GRCC Kicks Off the New Academic Year in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids to Host ArtPrize 2025, Celebrating Global Art

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER

GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.

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