Rising Voices 4: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists
MMA Exhibition Dates: May 20 – August 22, 2027 (with additional travel)
Call for Entries: April 13th- September 19th, 2026
About The Prize: The Bennett Prize is awarded biennially and provides $75,000 to the winning artist ($37,500 annually over two consecutive years). Ten (10) finalists will be selected to participate in a traveling exhibition organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) and the winner will be showcased in a solo exhibition at the close of her grant. A runner up award of $10,000 will be given to one additional finalist.
Eligibility: The Bennett Prize is open only to women eighteen (18) years or older residing at least part time in the United States (50 States and Washington, D.C.) whose primary practice is the creation of original paintings in the genre of figurative realism. Part-time residence must include an active studio practice in the U.S. (On-site studio visits are a required component of The Prize.) U.S. Citizenship is not required. Artists must be currently pursuing, or hope to pursue, a career as a full-time painter. The Prize is awarded to a single artist, collaborations are not eligible. To be eligible as a Finalist artists must not be a full or part time student between the close of the call for entry on September 19th, 2026 through the announcement of the Prize winner on May 20, 2027. The winner of The Prize may not be a full- or part-time student at any time from May 20, 2027 through the opening of her solo Prize exhibition in May 2029. Employment during the period of the grant DOES NOT affect eligibility. Artists who have received a prior award or grant of $35,000 or more, or sold any single work of art for $35,000 or more, are NOT eligible. To be considered for The Bennett Prize artists are required to participate in the exhibition of finalists, both by the submission and display of their work and attendance at the opening event. Artists must have works available for exhibition from February 12, 2027 through Sept. 2029. For additional information see the F.A.Q. at www.thebennettprize.org.
PLEASE READ ALL OF THE RULES AND TERMS BEFORE APPLYING. No refunds will be given for ineligible or disqualified entries, so read all terms. SUBMIT IMAGES AND ONE (1) DETAIL FOR NO FEWER THAN THREE (3) AND NO MORE THAN FIVE (5) PAINTINGS.
Entry: Entry is digital, through the www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. Search keyword “Bennett.” Free CaFÉ registration is required. Artists should submit a minimum of three (3) and no more than five (5) artworks and one detail, for a total of four (4) to six (6) images.
Deadline: Deadline for entry is 11:59PM MST September 19th, 2026
Number of Entries: Each artist may submit up to five (5) paintings for consideration by jurors. All entrants must also include one (1) detail image that demonstrates their craft and technique. Entries that do not include a minimum of three (3) pieces and one (1) detail will not be considered.
Digital Entry: Digital image files must conform to the requirements as listed on the CaFÉ site. Be sure to supply the title, media, and dimensions of your entries. Incomplete entries will not be juried. Professional photography of artworks is encouraged but not required.
Eligible Entries: Paintings must depict representational images of one or more figures of any gender. Figures may be clothed or nude and do not need to be photorealistic. All entries must be traditional paintings, which is defined as paint upon a two-dimensional surface. For this purpose, watercolor, gouache, and pastels are considered “paint.” Mixed media pieces will be considered as long as paint is the primary material. Paintings rendered over the top of photographic images are NOT eligible. Only original works completed in the past five (5) years are eligible for consideration.
Questions? Please call the MMA at 231-720-2582.
Notification: Artists will be notified of the jury results by email no later than Nov. 1, 2026.
Acceptance: Accepted artists must provide images and details for a minimum of four (4) paintings available for exhibition no later than Dec. 18, 2026 to maintain their eligibility. If the artworks submitted for jurying are not available then any alternate works submitted for exhibition must be representative of the juried pieces. Available paintings that deviate substantially in quality or theme from the juried works will not be considered and the accepted finalist will be disqualified and replaced with an alternate. To be considered for exhibition paintings must meet the criteria established in these rules. Depending on scale, two (2) or more paintings will be selected for exhibition from each of the ten (10) finalists. Finalists will be notified by Jan 8, 2027 of which paintings to send for exhibition. Artworks for exhibition must arrive at the MMA no later than Feb. 12, 2027 and be available for travel through Sept. 2029.
Exhibition Criteria: Paintings must be fully dry and suitable for travel to multiple venues. Ideally, paintings will be framed, though this is not required. All works must hang using wires, cleats, or D-rings. Works on paper must be framed and glazed. In the event you are selected as a finalist, MMA staff will coordinate with you on preparation for display and travel as necessary.
Delivery: The Muskegon Museum of Art will cover packing and shipping costs to and from the artist (U.S. domestic shipping only). Artworks must be shipped to arrive at the MMA no later Feb. 12, 2027. MMA staff will coordinate with the ten (10) finalists on shipping arrangements. Art will be sent to:
Attn: Bennett Prize
Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
Email: aanderso@muskegonartmuseum.org Phone: 231-720-2583
Entry Fee: The fee for entry is $50. Refunds cannot be provided after entry. No refunds will be given for ineligible or disqualified entries so read all terms carefully before applying.
Art Sales: While it is not required, exhibiting artists are strongly encouraged to make all exhibited artworks available for sale. Artists may not place restrictions or special conditions on sales, including on the identity or characteristics of the buyer. The MMA commission is 40% and must be included in the purchase price. Work offered for sale will be sold as exhibited and delivered to the purchaser by the MMA at the close of the traveling exhibition. It is the responsibility of the artist to resolve any issues related to gallery or agent representation if they choose to have the work(s) for sale.
Catalogue: The MMA will publish a full color catalogue in conjunction with the exhibition featuring the artwork of the ten (10) finalists. Artists are required to submit biographical materials and an artist statement for inclusion. The MMA will handle all catalogue photography of traveling works and share those image files with the artist.
Insurance: All artworks submitted for exhibition will be insured by MMA while in its possession and during the traveling exhibition. Artists must submit insurance values prior to delivery of the art to the MMA.
Liability: Participating artists will be required to sign a loan agreement with the MMA. Submitting a work of art to this exhibition requires agreement by the artist to all stated conditions.
Publicity: All artists grant the MMA the right to photograph and use any work submitted for exhibition for the purpose of the catalogue, publicity, advertising, or education. In addition, permission from the artists to reproduce their work in the catalogue is a condition of eligibility.
Travel: The MMA will cover travel and lodging expenses of the ten finalists to attend the opening event in May 2027. The two day opening event includes a public reception, award ceremony, and private dinner. Friday, May 21, includes a breakfast/meet and greet with finalists and their guests, lunch, and morning and afternoon professional development session with museum and gallery professionals and collectors.
The Bennett Prize: The winning artist, after being confirmed for eligibility, will enter into a separate agreement governing the two (2) years over which the proceeds of the Prize will be paid. In addition to the $75,000 over two (2) years, the winning artist will also be featured in a solo exhibition at the MMA that will open in May 2029. The solo show will also travel with the exhibition of finalists from 2029-2031. A runner up award of $10,000 will be given to one additional finalist.
Jurors: A panel of five jurors will adjudicate The Bennett Prize from the submitted entries.
DR. TIFFANY E. BARBER
Dr. Tiffany E. Barber is an award-winning scholar, curator, and critic whose work reshapes how we understand race, gender, and representation. A sought-after voice in contemporary art, culture, and fashion, her expert commentary spans academic journals, museum exhibitions, acclaimed documentaries, and major media outlets like The Nation, Huffington Post, Frieze, and Tate Etc. Currently Assistant Professor of African American Art at UCLA, Dr. Barber’s unique blend of art history, performance theory, and Black feminist thought inspires diverse audiences and institutions to advance new cultural futures. Her accolades include the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Director’s Essay Prize; leadership roles at the International Journal of Surrealism, the Delaware Contemporary, the College Board, and the Black Speculative Arts Movement; and numerous fellowships. Her path-breaking exhibitions have been featured in Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, Surface Magazine, and Google Arts and Culture. Her debut monograph, Undesirability and Her Sisters: Black Women’s Visual Work and the Ethics of Representation (NYU Press, 2025), cements her reputation as a leading tastemaker and thinker of this generation.
STEVEN ALAN BENNETT
Steven Alan Bennett established The Bennett Collection of Women Realists in 2009. The Collection is limited to figurative realist paintings of women by women artists and includes work by some of the most exciting women painters currently working: Margaret Bowland, Aleah Chapin, Shiqing Deng, Andrea Kowch, Alyssa Monks, Katie O’Hagan, Harmonia Rosales and dozens of others on the cutting edge of figurative realism. Bennett bases the Collection on two similar but different beliefs. First, while women painters have produced remarkable work for centuries, they have not received the same degree of acceptance as their male counterparts. Second, in addition to gender discrimination, figurative realism is disfavored in many art schools, universities and galleries, which have ignored or repudiated the realistic depiction of persons or figures. Thus, Bennett has limited the Collection to women figurative realists to celebrate the fabulous work that these women are creating. In 2013, Bennett and his spouse and co-curator, Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, began discussing the creation of an art prize that would enable them to address discrimination against women painters and support and promote figurative realism. Over a period of several years, the Bennetts refined this idea, ultimately endowing The Bennett Prize Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation. The goal of The Prize is to celebrate and honor women figurative realists by encouraging their work and helping to launch or propel their careers as fine art painters. Bennett has a BA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame and pursued a fine arts degree at the University of Kansas. https://thebennettprize.org/bennetts
JULIE HEFFERNAN
Julie Heffernan is an American painter whose artwork has been described by writer Rebecca Solnit as “a new kind of history painting” and by The New Yorker as “ironic rococo surrealism with a social-satirical twist.” She uses the term “Self-Portrait” to describe what are extremely subjective takes on a world gone awry. While invoking a sense of the possible in these vividly detailed realms she reflects on environmental, (art) historical, feminist, literary, social, and political subjects.
Heffernan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from University of California at Santa Cruz and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at Yale School of Art and Architecture. She is a Professor of Fine Arts at Montclair State University and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Heffernan's graphic novel, Babe in the Woods, or the Art of Getting Lost (Algonguin Press), came out in 2024. She is the founder and editor of the blog Painters on Paintings, an ongoing conversation between artists focusing on the work of another artist.
In 2011, Heffernan was inducted into the National Academy of Design in New York. She is the recipient of numerous grants including a Fulbright-Hayes Grant to Berlin, an NEA, a 2021 NYFA Fellowship and 2017 MacDowell Fellow. Among her other recognitions, Heffernan’s paintings were exhibited in the Reception Room at the Chilean Embassy during the Biden Administration as exemplars of the climate crisis. She was the Commencement Speaker for the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and featured artist at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Recently Heffernan was commissioned by Adam Jones of Tool to contribute artwork for two custom Gibson guitars and by Martin Guitars for a custom design as well. Since 1999, Heffernan has had more than 50 solo exhibitions at museums and other venues across the United States and abroad, most recently at Hirschl & Adler Modern in 2023. Her work is represented in 25 museum and institutional collections.
MIRANDA LASH
Miranda Lash is the Ellen Bruss Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Her recent accomplishments include acting as co-Artistic Director (alongside 2024 MacArthur Fellow Ebony G. Patterson) for the 2024–2025 international art triennial Prospect.6 in New Orleans titled The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home. At MCA Denver she has organized the exhibitions Deborah Jack: the haunting of estuaries…an (after)math of confluence (2025); Suki Seokyeong Kang: Mountain—Hour—Face (2025, co-organized with Leilani Lynch); Cowboy (2023, co-organized with Nora Burnett Abrams); Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe (2023); Clarissa Tossin: Falling from Earth (2022); Eamon Ore-Giron: Competing with Lighting / Rivalizando con el relampágo (2022); and Jason Moran: Bathing the Room with Blues (2021). Lash currently serves on the board of the Joan Mitchell Foundation and was a 2022 Fellow with the Center for Curatorial Leadership. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the Williams College Graduate program in the History of Art.
ELAINE MELOTTI-SCHMIDT
Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt is co-founder of The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists and co-curator of The Bennett Collection, an art collection dedicated to paintings of women by women. Schmidt received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Temple University and has worked or consulted in schools on three continents. With a special passion for reaching children living in poverty or born with learning or physical differences, Schmidt’s areas of specialization include early childhood education, special needs, second language learners, and at-risk student instruction. Schmidt lives with her husband, Steven Alan Bennett, in Texas, where they are art collectors who specialize in realist paintings of women by women artists. This undertaking has afforded Schmidt the opportunity to meet many working women artists as well as to create a collection of paintings showing women from all walks of life. Schmidt has curated a number of art exhibitions including Visions of Venus/Venus’s Visions, which appeared at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago in 2018, and, with Bennett, Painting the Figure Now at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, Wisconsin in 2021. She and Bennett are major donors to the Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Michigan, which opened its new wing, the Bennett Schmidt Pavilion, in 2025.
