Awards
2008 Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement
Sylvia Sleigh
Sylvia Sleigh (photograph by Judy Schiller)
Sylvia Sleigh has contributed greatly to the history of figurative painting for several decades, and her influence continues into the present century. For more than sixty years Sleigh has continued to create challenging paintings, often working independently, outside of popular trends. Throughout she has maintained a recognized presence as an accomplished artist, especially among her peers.
Sleigh’s exhibition record in museums and galleries is impressive. Her work has been exhibited countless times, internationally and domestically, from her first solo exhibition in 1952 at Kensington Art in England to her most recent exhibition in 2007 at I-20 Gallery in New York.
There is no doubt that Sleigh’s art career has been remarkable. Her paintings have changed historical expectations of the representation of the nude male figure. She has played an important role in the feminist art movement and has been a positive influence on several generations of artists. Though her paintings may be more familiar than her name, her impact is unquestionable. As an acknowledgment of her significant career and continuing contribution as an artist, it is with great pleasure that the jury awards the Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement to Sylvia Sleigh.
Jury: Leo Morrissey, Winston-Salem State University, chair; Robert Berlind, Purchase College, State University of New York; and Ann Temkin, Museum of Modern Art.
