The King Awards 2024

All awards are based on artistic merit. In 2013, Gretchen King (BA in English’59) worked with the Department of Art & Art History to establish the King Competition and Exhibition, the department’s first juried student exhibition. Since that time fellow alums, Meridee Moore (BA in Philosophy ’80) and Kevin King (BFA in Fine Arts ’81) have joined Gretchen in generously supporting the annual competition and exhibition, allowing the department to award undergraduate and graduate students monetary prizes, and to showcase their work in the Visual Arts Complex.

All degree-seeking students in the Art & Art history department are invited to apply.

  • $3000 for first-place Grad and Undergrad
  • $2000 for second-place Grad and Undergrad
  • $1000 for third-place Grad and Undergrad
  • $500 for 4 honorable mentions

Important Dates

   The deadline for submission: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM
   Notifications of the finalists: Friday, March 22, 2024

Link to King Awards Application

Questions or concerns?

Please reach out to Jean Goldstein, jean.goldstein@colorado.edu
Your award will be paid to your student account. Any balance due will be paid, and the remaining funds will be sent to you via direct deposit (direct deposit set-up instructions)


   VAC Exhibition timeline:

Installation: Friday, April 5, 2024 to Tuesday, April 9, 2024 
Exhibition: Wednesday, April 10 - April 19, 2024 
Reception: Friday, April 12, 2024, 4:00-6:00 PM 
​Deinstallation/Repair: Friday, April 19-21, 2024 

    ŷڱƵ the King Exhibition

    Award-winning artwork will be displayed both online and in the Visual Arts Complex:

    • A virtual showcase of all applicants and awardees will be featured on the art and art history website in conjunction with a curated, in-person exhibition featured at the Visual Arts Complex of the 10 award winners (3 grads and 3 undergrads, and 4 honorable mentions)
    • Up to three images for each applicant will be displayed online, chosen at the discretion of the Art & Art History faculty and staff. Please review last year's webpage as an example: King Exhibition 2023
    • All forms of artwork will be considered but there might be limited ability to accommodate the installation needs of all work(s) due to space restrictions
    • A compilation featuring award-winning time-based artworks will be displayed
    • The student assumes the responsibility for any liability or damages to work on display

    Jurors 2024

    Dakota Hoska

    Dakota Hoska is a Native American artist, curator and enrolled member of the Oglala Lakȟóta nation, Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee community. She is currently the Assistant Curator of Native Arts for the Denver Art Museum (DAM), which houses one of the country’s largest collections of Native American artwork. Before her move to the DAM, Ms. Hoska served as a Research Assistant for the Minneapolis Institute of Art. There, her primary responsibilities were breaking down barriers between the institution and local Native community members and also supporting the development of the groundbreaking exhibition “Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists.”  

    Jared Thompson

    Jared Thompson is a seasoned curator with over three decades of experience in the museum field, having significantly contributed to the success of more than 60 exhibitions. Jared's career spans roles at the Longmont Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, and The Strong National Museum of Play. His skills encompass exhibition development, project management, technical expertise in digital and graphic design, and an understanding of the cultural landscape in Longmont and Northern ŷڱƵ. Jared is recognized for his ability to envision and realize imaginative ideas and foster collaborative and inclusive environments with artists that drive excellence and innovation.

    Jane Burke

    Jane Burke, Curator, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Burke previously served as the curatorial fellow in the Textile Art and Fashion Department at the Denver Art Museum. Burke developed her museum career in Honolulu, Hawaii having held curatorial and collections management positions at the Honolulu Museum of Art, The Contemporary Museum, and The East West Center Gallery. Most recently, she was the curatorial fellow in the Textile Art & Fashion department at the Denver Art Museum (DAM). During her eight-year tenure at DAM, Burke co-organized numerous innovative, multi-media exhibitions and co-authored subsequent catalogs in tandem with fashion historian and curator, Florence Müller.

    The King Awards in the News