McMaster Museum of Art is very excited to share the award recipients for emerging artists participating in this year’s BFA graduating exhibition SUMMA 2024. Guest curator Christina Leslie and the McMaster School of the Arts faculty presented these awards to students during the Opening Reception held on Thursday, April 11. Congratulations to all the artists and award winners!

The Museum Award, selected by curator Christina Leslie, was presented to Geneva Cooper. Two honourable mentions for the Museum Award were presented to Anna George, and Jacob Micallef. The Faculty Award, selected by the School of the Arts faculty, was presented to Matthew Bailey. Two honourable mentions for the Faculty Award were presented to Ardyn Gibbs, and Hyemin Jenny Kim.
Learn more about each of these emerging artists below and be sure to visit SUMMA 2024: Yearbook, on view until April 26, 2024!

Geneva Cooper is a 22-year-old multidisciplinary artist. She is half Ojibwe and half Scottish-Irish descent. Her practice consists mostly of sculpture and digital drawing, however, she enjoys exploring various mediums. Her concepts tend to focus on her identity as an Indigenous woman, and she uses her art as a way to express emotions that may be difficult to communicate through words.

Anna George‘s practice is driven by process and materiality through sculpture, printmaking, and installation. She explores themes of degradation, impermanence, and waste. Anna finds inspiration in the process of making, treating the production not as a mode for creation but rather a part of the work itself; creating a language between the materiality of natural and manufactured objects.

Jacob Micallef primarily works in sculpture, with a focus on texture and naturally found materials. He encourages interaction between himself, his artwork and the viewers with immersive installation pieces. Jacob’s practice heavily involves magnetite as the focus material for its unique texture, mixed with polymer to form layered structures and form.