My Top Picks - ArtPrize 2025
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Diving Into the Heart of ArtPrize 2025
If you've ever been to Grand Rapids in the fall, you know that ArtPrize is a massive showcase of creativity. Since it started in 2009, this incredible event has only grown, continuing its successful legacy. In 2025, we saw around 1,100 artists exhibiting nearly a thousand pieces across 155 venues—and I was thrilled to be a part of it!
I had the perfect companion for my first ArtPrize day this year: my daughter, a photographer, whose eye for detail made the day even better. While our personal favorites didn't match all of the official winners, the experience of discovering these pieces was the real prize for us.
The Journey Begins: Sound, Light, and Paper
Kalopeiron Photo by Our Zest for Life
Kalopeiron Photo of Photographer Rachel Wierda by Our Zest for Life
Our first stop was right outside the Kendall School of Art and Design, where we stepped into Kalopeiron by Two Eagles Marcus. This isn't just art you look at; it's a sound-and-image chamber that pulls you in. The artist statement describes it as ”housed in a matte black shipping container this human-sized LED hexagon kaleidoscope creates an immersive audio-visual experience" that challenges reality. The name itself—combining the Greek words for "beautiful" (kalos) and "boundless" (apeiron) — perfectly captures how the colorful visuals reflect endlessly into oblivion.
Simplicity Communications presented us with Kaiwa ("conversation") by Ted Loomis. Ted’s work is a powerful example of resourcefulness, created by stacking multiple paper trays accumulated over a long period. His project is rooted in aesthetic cognitivism, the belief that engaging with art can generate knowledge about the world and human nature. Dedicated to five Japanese haiku poets, the installation aims to promote three key takeaways: recycling/reuse, cultural understanding, and the importance of truth.
Kaiwa Photo by Our Zest for Life
Ruby Petals and Cloth Jewels
The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, with its high ceilings and grand rooms, provided the perfect backdrop for two truly magnificent works.
The Red Rose Photo by Our Zest for Life
Kaiwa Photo by Our Zest for Life
Just up the street at Oh Hello Paper and Gifts, we found pure joy. Spring Lake, Michigan, native Ivy Laurel Anderson's colorful, hanging installation, "Glow," brightened the window space. Made of knitted elastic tubes under tension, these "vessels" of "translucent layers of color" were a delightful, funnel-like splash of fun.
Glow Photo by Our Zest for Life
The first, The Red Rose by Keven Bahoora, literally drew us to it to appreciate both its color and its unique content. This stunning piece is neither made with paint nor a photo, but actual rose petals and took the artist 16 years from conception to completion. He spent 14 years and four attempts just learning how to preserve the petals free of UV light and moisture—a fascinating story of dedication. Keven urged viewers to look closely, and you’ll see decaying rose petals that sparkle like deep rubies.
The piece we saw next is entitled Torch Song by MJ Kinman, and looks exactly like a giant, genuine, sparkling jewel. The incredible part? It’s entirely made of cloth. This piece of textile art is pure brilliance. Artist Kinman’s newest series is inspired by the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection, and her pieces have been recognized in worldwide publications.
Michigan Pride and Mutual Rescue
Outside the Amway Hotel, Tom Gifford brought our state to life with Mighty Michigan, a Top 20 winner for 2025 ArtPrize. This beautiful work, made entirely from driftwood, showcases on two opposite sides both a waterfall and the stunning forms of our upper and lower peninsulas—a great piece of natural art.
Mighty Michigan Photo by Our Zest for life
On my final ArtPrize visit, sadly a government shutdown prevented me from exploring art pieces inside the Gerald Ford Museum; however, I still found two powerful pieces on the museum grounds.
3D public vote winner Andy Sacksteder's heart-warming bronze, Who’s Adopting Who, depicts an old man and a dog mutually rescuing each other. The impact was clear: many people were lining up to sit on the bench next to the man, likely reflecting on the dogs that had bettered their own lives.
Who’s Adopting Who? Photo by Our Zest for Life
And last was the public vote grand prize winner: Mark Lewanski’s glass sculpture, Arras. Made from thousands of interconnected glass fibers, this massive work, which the artist had long dreamed of creating, symbolizes the “interconnectedness of our society”—a beautiful and fitting message for an event that brings so many people together.
If you want to learn more about these artists, they are easily found on Google searches and social media. Enjoy!
Torch Song Photo by Our Zest for Life
Mighty Michigan Photo by Our Zest for Life
Who’s Adopting Who? Photo by Our Zest for Life
Who’s Adopting Who Photo by Our Zest for Life
Arras Photo by Our Zest for Life
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TIPS FOR COMFORTABLE MUSEUM VISITS (all items are based on our experiences and personal taste)
For indoor museums, I recommend Skechers for walking comfort. A white sole prevents shoe marks on museum floors. https://amzn.to/3LnCMUM or https://amzn.to/3J0Ozrz
I am one of those nerdy museum people who spend time reading the accompanying signs and gathering literature about the exhibits to read later. I like to have a loose bag that I can hook diagonally over my shoulder so I can put all the brochures, etc., in the bag. ArtPrize has a lot of literature, especially in the first few days. I recommend this bag. https://amzn.to/47zxgHs
Many of the exhibits for ArtPrize are outside. Having a hat to protect from the sun or a compact umbrella for rain or shine which will keep the day more enjoyable. Both this hat and umbrella are foldable and lightweight for carrying. You might like these awesome finds. https://amzn.to/4p2BmO1
Having a portable water bottle that does not leak is crucial for these huge museums and art shows. https://amzn.to/3LwB2ZI
