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Altoids and New Museum Honor Artists

Winners receive a joint exhibition at New York's New Museum, on view June 25-October 12.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 3/27/2008 12:00:00 AM

Altoids are more than a fresh mint -- the brand also flags fresh new talent in the national art scene. Four emerging artists are the first Altoids Award winners, bestowed by New York's New Museum and Altoids, the Curiously Strong Mints.

Ei Arakawa of New York; Michael Patterson-Carver of Portland, Oregon; Lauren Kelley of Houston, Texas; and Michael Stickrod of New Haven, Connecticut will each receive a $25,000 cash prize and a chance for international recognition. The artists' diverse media--from performance, to video, to drawing--will be on view in a joint exhibition at the New Museum, June 25-October 12.

Winners were selected from 46 nominees, named by a group of 10 artists: Edgar Arceneaux (Los Angeles); Allora and Calzadilla (San Juan, Puerto Rico); Mitch Cope (Detroit); Trisha Donnelly (San Francisco); Harrell Fletcher (Portland, Oregon); Michelle Grabner (Chicago); Jay Heikes (Minneapolis); Matt Keegan (New York); Rick Lowe (Houston); and Frances Stark (Los Angeles).

"The Altoids Award is a significant way for Altoids and the Museum to expand their recognition of new American talent," says Lisa Phillips, Toby Devan Lewis Director at the New Museum. "For so many of these artists, this is a life-changing opportunity, and that is exactly what we are here for-to champion emerging artists and to consistently offer our audiences the chance to experience new art and new ideas from a variety of perspectives."

From top: In the Waters by Lauren Kelley; Si Se Puede by Michael Patterson-Carver.