Harrisburg, PA – State Museum of Pennsylvania Director Angelica Docog today announced the winners of the Art of the State 2024 exhibition.
Art of the State is an annual juried exhibition that showcases the diverse work of Pennsylvania artists. Established in 1968, the exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania highlights more than five decades of creative expression in the Commonwealth.
Featuring works in five categories—painting, craft, sculpture, photography/digital media, and work on paper—Art of the State offers a glimpse into the rich artistic tapestry of Pennsylvania. From established artists to emerging talents, the exhibition showcases a variety of styles and perspectives.
"This year's Art of the State exhibition continues our 57-year tradition of showcasing the incredible diversity of Pennsylvania's artistic community,” said State Museum Director Angelica Docog. “From established masters to emerging talents, this year's showcase features a wide range of styles and mediums. We invite you to join us in celebrating the power of art and the stories of our talented artists."
A panel of expert jurors reviewed and selected the 96 top-scoring works to be exhibited from more than 2,200 entries submitted by artists from across Pennsylvania. This year's awards juror, Jim Toia, a renowned artist and curator, then determined the first, second, and third place winners.
The Art Docents Corps of The State Museum voted and chose its 2024 Docents' Choice Award.
This year's first-place winners are from Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. The Docents’ Choice Award was presented to an artist from Lehigh County.
Cash awards totaling $5,300 were presented in each of the five categories, with a first prize of $500, a second prize of $300, and a third prize of $200. Additionally, the Art Docents’ Choice Award winner was honored with $300.
The public is invited to experience the exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania through January 5, 2025.
Award winners will be posted on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). An exhibition catalog pdf and programming announcements can be accessed at Art of the State 2024.
Craft
- First Place: Nancy Middlebrook, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County - “Lake #1”
- Second Place: Patty Kennedy-Zafred, Murrysville, Westmoreland County – “American Portraits: Deep Roots”
- Third Place: Marissa McHugh, Bethlehem, Northampton County - “EmyBunny”
Painting
- First Place: Angela Lapioli, Elizabethtown, Dauphin County - “Recovered Pieces”
- Second Place: Paul Rosenblatt, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County - “Song of Everything”
- Third Place: Thomas Paquette, Warren, Warren County - “GH Old Growth Forest”
Photography / Digital Media
- First Place: Phil Cifone, Drexel Hill, Delaware County - “Schuylkill River Flooding, 2021”
- Second Place: James Evangelista, West Bradford, Chester County - “Divine Ascent”
- Third Place: Walter Plotnick, Elkins Park, Montgomery County - “Cuddle Dance”
Sculpture
- First Place: Holly Layman, Perkiomenville, Montgomery County - “Proper Chopper Bobber”
- Second Place: Marquerita Hagan, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County - “Flora Shield Trio, Wildlife Series”
- Third Place: Zhanna Martin, Media, Delaware County - “Just Adopted”
Work on Paper
- First Place: Geoffrey Beadle, Erie, Erie County - “J.L.P.”
- Second Place: Jacob Muldowney, Waynesboro, Franklin County - “Delicious”
- Third Place: Kyle Reidmiller, Blairsville, Indiana County - “Scott”
The State Museum Art Docents' Choice Award
- Winner: Kaz Brittenburg, Allentown, Lehigh County - Sculpture – “The Intangible Concept of Lacking (Figure #3)”
Art of the State is presented by The State Museum of Pennsylvania in partnership with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation.
The Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation (PHF) is the nonprofit partner of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), dedicated to preserving and sharing the Commonwealth’s rich history. Through generous donations, PHF supports PHMC in caring for 23 historic sites and museums, an extensive collection of artifacts, and invaluable archival materials.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania is one of 23 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History.
As one of PHMC’s premier cultural institutions, The State Museum of Pennsylvania offers visitors a captivating journey through time. Located adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, the museum houses expansive collections that illuminate Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in American history, from the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the Commonwealth's vast industrial age. The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America's story.
For more information about Art of the State 2024 and The State Museum of Pennsylvania, visit statemuseumpa.org or follow us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram or LinkedIn.
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