UW–Madison’s Julie Chen, a professor in the School of Education’s Art Department, is a recipient of one of the first-ever BRAVA Awards from the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA).
BRAVA, which stands for “BIMA Recognizes Achievement in the Visual Arts,” was created to recognize four contemporary artists, craftspeople, or makers whose work demonstrates artistic merit and excellence, technical mastery, contribution to the arts landscape, and professional accomplishment in four different fields: Emerging Artist, Artist’s Book Artist, Children’s Book Illustration Artist, and Indigenous and First Nations Artist. Recipients receive an unrestricted award of $15,000 in recognition of their unique artistic talent and contribution to their field.
The awards were made possible by a visionary BIMA supporter who was inspired by the museum’s commitment to find ways to directly recognize and support working artists and craftspeople.
Chen has been awarded the Artist’s Books Artists Award. This award supports the work of contemporary visual artists and craftspeople working in the genre of artist’s books. Artist’s books are works of art that utilize the concept of the book in some fashion, in works that often reveal themselves to the user over time and through interpretation, manipulation, or storytelling. Artist’s books can include small edition works or one-of-a-kind objects.
“We are thrilled to be able to honor these four individuals with a BRAVA Award in its inaugural year,” said Sheila Hughes, BIMA’s executive director. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for this museum to be able to make a meaningful difference to the lives of working artists. We hope the award serves as affirmation and recognition for each of these exceptional artists and inspires them to continue their personal journey to interpret the world through their art and craft.”
Chen is an internationally known book artist who has been publishing under the Flying Fish Press imprint for over 36 years. Her books combine text and image with innovative structures to create experiences that engage the reader in interactions that go far beyond the simple turning of a page. She uses letterpress, photopolymer plates, and laser cutting among other traditional and contemporary technologies.
Learn more about Chen and her work.