“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” is the perfect idiom for Transformation 10: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, The Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize Exhibition. Featuring 26 national and international artists who have been selected as finalists for the 2017 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize. Transformation 10 will showcase newly created, innovative artworks that incorporate found materials in unexpected ways and challenge notions about commonplace objects, found materials, and contemporary art for personal and global narratives, expressions, and aesthetics. This exhibition is free and open to the public.
Exhibiting artists: Victoria Ahmadizadeh, Fumi Amano, James Arendt, Undine Brod, Jeremy Brooks, Melissa Cameron, Adriane Dalton, Hilary Fayle, Maggie Rozycki Hiltner, Everett Hoffman, Judith Hoyt, Katie Hudnall, Kathleen W. Kennedy, Joshua Kosker, Kate Kretz, Diane KW, Ted Lott, Archana Pathak, Ellie Richards, Arturo Sandoval, Jina Seo, Carina Shoshtary, Michelle Stitzlein, Jessica Tolbert, MJ Tyson, Robert Villamagna.
The Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize:
In conjunction with each Transformation exhibition, the jurors select the participating artist whose work best displays the tenets of excellence and innovation. The award is accompanied by a $5000 cash prize. The Transformation 10 winner and Honorable Mention recipients will be publicly announced at the exhibition opening reception on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Winner of 2017 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize:
Melissa Cameron is the winner of 2017 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize. In addition to having a total of 10 works of art on view in Transformation 10, Cameron will also receive a $5,000 cash prize from Contemporary Craft to support her artistic career.
Merit Award and Honorable Mention honorees of 2017 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize:
Merit Award honoree – James Arendt
Honorable Mention honoree – Fumi Amano
Transformation 10: Contemporary Works in Found Materials Exhibition Catalogue
Transformation 10: Contemporary Works in Found Materials and the Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize are made possible by Alexandra and Catherine Raphael, The Fine Foundation, and Cohen & Grigsby, P.C. Additional support is provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District, The Heinz Endowments, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Elizabeth R. Raphael Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Media sponsored by: 
Featured photo: Katie Hudnall. The Seeing Machine, 2018. Found wood, hardware, lens, strings, paint. Photo: Jake Sneath.
