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The Betty Bowen Award

A figure's silhouette in a dark gallery against a large painting of a lounging tiger in a zoo enclosure.
About

Administered by the Seattle Art Museum, the annual Betty Bowen Award honors a Northwest artist for their original, exceptional, and compelling work. The winner is awarded an unrestricted cash prize of $15,000, and a selection of their works is shown at the Seattle Art Museum. In addition, up to two Special Recognition Awards in the amount of $2,500 and three Special Commendation Awards in the amount of $1,250 are often granted at the discretion of the Betty Bowen Committee.

Betty Bowen (1918–1977) was a Washington native and enthusiastic supporter of Northwest artists. Her friends established the annual Betty Bowen Award as a celebration of her life and to honor and continue her efforts to provide financial support to the artists of the region. Since 1977, the Seattle Art Museum has hosted the open call application process by which the Betty Bowen Committee chooses one visual artist working in the Northwest to receive the unrestricted cash award.

Betty Bowen Committee Members
Gary Glant (Chair)

Mike Hess

Mark Levine

Catharina Manchanda
Llewelyn Pritchard
Greg Robinson

Norie Sato

2024 Guest Committee Members
Rob Rhee
Anthony White

Honorary Members
Jeffrey Bishop

Bill True

Maggie Walker
Merrill Wright

What to know

Submissions are currently closed.

The award is open to visual artists in all media working in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Artists of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The application will be available at callforentry.org. There is a $10 application fee. The Seattle Art Museum is committed to values of accessibility and financial assistance. If costs pose a barrier to entry, please contact us at bettybowen@seattleartmuseum.org

All entries must be submitted online. Entries sent by standard mail will not be accepted. Artists are encouraged to submit their most recent body of work.

The winner is selected in a two-part jury process. In the first round, the applicants are reviewed anonymously. Six finalists are selected from the pool of applicants. Finalists are then invited to present their work to the committee in the second round and will receive an honorarium of $500 for related expenses. After this review process, the committee selects one award winner in addition to any special recognition award winners they wish to honor.

Selection is based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

  • The compelling nature of the artist’s ideas and contribution to the field
  • The quality and creativity of the work submitted for review
  • The artist’s commitment to developing their work
  • The impact the award will have on the artist and their career

Current Betty Bowen grand prize winner

Samantha Wall, Grand Prize

Samantha Yun Wall (b. 1977, Seoul) creates drawings that reflect her experience of navigating transcultural identity as a Black Korean immigrant. She draws inspiration from female archetypes described in global mythologies, folktales, and creation narratives, particularly non-normative female figures such as ghosts, monsters, healers, or storytellers. In her highly detailed, monochromatic images, she reveals how these figures are made alternately invisible or hyper-visible in their roles as social outcasts or even menaces. By deconstructing and reframing these vilified figures, Wall challenges patriarchal norms and stigmatization.

Wall’s work has been exhibited throughout Washington and Oregon, including Boren Banner Series: Samantha Wall (April 10–October 06, 2024) a solo show at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, and Black Artists of Oregon (September 9, 2023–March 31, 2024), a group show at the Portland Art Museum. She has been awarded multiple prizes and grants, including the Ford Family Foundation Grant, the Bonnie Bronson Fellowship, and the Arlene Schnitzer Prize. Wall is a previous finalist for the Betty Bowen Award, winning the Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award in 2023.

Wild Seeds No.2, 2024, Samantha Wall, ink and conté crayon on clay-coated board, 37 x 37 in., ©️ Samantha Wall

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Betty Bowen winners to date

2024 Samantha Wall, Grand Prize
2024 Sally Scopa, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
2024 Sol Hashemi, Gary Glant Special Recognition Award

2024 Carson Ellis, Tannaz Farsi, Nahom Ghirmay, Special Commendation Awards

2023 Tariqa Waters, Grand Prize
2023 Samantha Wall, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
2023 Mary Ann Peters, Gary Glant Special Recognition Award

2023 Derek Franklin, Lisa Liedgren Alexandersson, Ido (Lisa) Radon, Special Commendation Awards

2022 Elizabeth Malaska, Grand Prize
2022 Klara Glosova, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
2022 Rafael Soldi, Gary Glant Special Recognition Award

2022 Sam Hamilton, Tim Hutchings, and Ric'kisha Taylor, Special Commendation Awards

2021 Anthony White, Grand Prize
2021 Humaira Abid, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award

2021 Tariqa Waters, Gary Glant Special Recognition Award
2021 Barry Johnson, Howard L. GATO Mitchell, and Kimisha Turner, Special Commendation Awards

2020
Dawn Cerny, Grand Prize
Tariqa Waters, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Elijah Hansan, Special Recognition Award

2019
Lynne Siefert, Grand Prize
Anthony White, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Andrea Joyce Heimer, Special Recognition Award

2018
Natalie Ball, Grand Prize
Amy Bernstein, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Deborah Faye Lawrence, Special Recognition Award

2017
Molly Vaughan, Grand Prize
Ko Kirk Yamahira, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Deborah Lawrence, Special Recognition Award

2016
Wendy Red Star, Grand Prize
Mark Mitchell, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Dawn Cerny, Special Recognition Award

2015
Jack Daws, Grand Prize
Lou Watson, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Eirik Johnson, Special Recognition Award

2014
Ralph Pugay, Grand Prize
Klara Glosova, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Gretchen Frances Bennett, Special Recognition Award

2013
Leo Berk, Grand Prize
Sol Hashemi, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Jack Daws, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2012
Sarah Bergmann, Grand Prize

2011
Jenny Heishman, Grand Prize
SuttonBeresCuller, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Lisa Liedgren, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2010
Ellen Lesperance, Grand Prize
Barbara Sternberger, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Eli Hansen, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2009
Josh Faught, Grand Prize
Matt Offenbacher, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Jenny Heishman, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2008
Isaac Layman, Grand Prize
Eric Elliott, Kayla Skinner Special Recognition Award
Wynne Greenwood, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2007
Oscar Tuazon, Grand Prize
Joseph Park, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Vanessa Renwick, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2006
Margie Livingston, Grand Prize
Emily Gherard, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Mary Simpson, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2005
Marie Watt, Grand Prize
Evan Blackwell, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
David Russo, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2004
Victoria Haven, Grand Prize
Timothy Foss, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2003
Dan Webb, Grand Prize
Rachel Moore, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2002
Ross Palmer Beecher, Grand Prize
Buster Simpson, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Michael Rathbun, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2001
Brian Murphy, Grand Prize
Hildur Bjarnadottir, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Jaq Chartier, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

2000
Iole Alessandrini, Grand Prize
Eric Bashor, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Lauren Grossman, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Victoria Haven, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1999
Ford Gilbreath, Grand Prize
Jennifer Dixon, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1998
Michael Howard, Grand Prize
Erik Geschke, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Kevin Kadar, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1997
Cathy McClure, Grand Prize
David K. Chatt, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Mary K. Guth, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Robert M. Plogman, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1996
Henry DePosit, Grand Prize
Daniel Mihalyo, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Jeffrey Simmons, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Robert Yoder, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1995
Lanny Bergner, Grand Prize
Michael Knutsen, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Dan Webb, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Kumi Yamashita, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1994
Collin Shutz, Grand Prize
Judy Allen, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Erick Stotik, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1993
Ingrid Lahti, Grand Prize
Pamela Gazale, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Josiah McElheny, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1992
Amanda Fin, Grand Prize
Luke Blackstone, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1991
Mark Fuller, Grand Prize
James Lavadour, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1990
Cris Bruch, Grand Prize
Rick Bartow, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Margi Beyers, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Claudia Fitch, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1989
Ken Kelly, Grand Prize
Steven Engle, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Mark Fuller, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Shelley Moore, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1988
Nancy Mee, Grand Prize
Jack Chevalier, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Alfred Harris, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Barbara Noah, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1987
George Chacona, Grand Prize
Gayle Bard, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Susan Bennerstrom, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Peter Millett, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Ed Musante, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Selene Santucci, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1986
Mark Calderon, Grand Prize

1985
Debra Sherwood, Grand Prize

1984
Randy Hayes, Grand Prize

1983
Norie Sato, Grand Prize

1982
Jeffrey Bishop, Grand Prize

1981
Joan Stuart Ross, Grand Prize

1980
Joseph Goldberg, Grand Prize
Leo Kenney, PONCHO Special Recognition Award
Charles Stokes, PONCHO Special Recognition Award

1979
Charles Stokes, Grand Prize

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