Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024: Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Finalists Announced

Since the beginning of August our Jury Panel including esteemed sculptor Erika Sanada, and Arts Champion Yasha Young have been going through the entries and making the incredibly difficult decisions. As you will see, the caliber of work is excellent and perfectly represents the diverse materials and unique aesthetic of contemporary sculpture.

We have received sculptures in multiple mediums including metal, marble, wood, gold, glass, cardboard, plaster, stone and semi-precious stones, gold leaf, mirrors, silk, flowers; kozo tissue, papier-mâché, vintage items, fabrics, many resins, ceramic, clays and CosClay, cement, wool, moss, latex, wax, Polylactic acid (PLA), epoxy, glazes and paints, taxidermy, found objects, linoleum floor tiles, and even Himalayan goat fur, horns, human hair and bones! The amount of imagination has amazed us. Every year we are introduced to new ideas and levels of experimentation.

The Prizes

Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award

The Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award 1st prize winner will receive:

  • $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by Yasha Young Projects, arts philanthropist and Executive Curatorial Director for the FOR_M, a new institution currently being developed in New York city.
  • $400 USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including an all-access 1 year subscription which includes unlimited access to their Course Library by The Masters of FX, with new courses added every month. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
  • $250 USD worth of supplies of your choice from Sculpey, making polymer oven-bake clays for over 50 years.
  • A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
  • The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
  • Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
  • 3 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
  • Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, as part of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize editorial.
  • Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
  • Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
  • A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2nd prize winner will receive:

  • $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Yasha Young Projects, arts philanthropist and Executive Curatorial Director for the FOR_M, a new institution currently being developed in New York city.
  • $220 USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including a 3 month subscription including full access to the entire course library. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
  • The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
  • Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
  • Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
  • Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
  • A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

3rd prize winner will receive:

  • $500 USD cash, generously donated by Yasha Young Projects, arts philanthropist and Executive Curatorial Director for the FOR_M, a new institution currently being developed in New York city.
  • $100 USD worth of services from Stan Winston School, including a 1 month subscription including full access to the entire course library. Plus exclusive access to the Behind-the-Scenes Documentary stream.
  • The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
  • Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
  • Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
  • Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
  • A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.

‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)

From the 150 Finalists across all Award categories the Jury Panel will select the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner.

The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will receive:

  • $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene. 
  • $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
  • The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
  • A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
  • A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
  • A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
  • The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
  • Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
  • 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
  • Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, as part of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize editorial.
  • Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
  • Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
  • 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
  • A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award

The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will be selected by popular vote from the 150 Finalists. The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books; a Deco Pro (Gen2) MW generously donated by XPPen, and a 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys.

Voting will open on 23 August [AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time]. To ensure you don’t miss your chance to vote, please join our email mailing list here.

Additionally, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will enjoy a year’s worth of social media advertising through the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to ensure they are able to connect with the right audience, raise their profile, and of course to grow their social media following. They will also enjoy a Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months, plus a 12 month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine print subscription, and an in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize websites, giving readers an insight into their vision and practice!

In addition, each sponsor will choose one outstanding work from their award category to receive an Honourable Mention. Stay tuned to learn more!

The Photography Award, Digital Art Award and the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists will be announced later this week.

So without further ado we are proud to announce the Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award Finalists of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize…

Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Finalists

2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Marcin-Otapowicz
Marcin Otapowicz
“Icarus” (Bogwood, Wings made of steam bent oak wood, covered with cotton fabric, natural leather straps, jute rope and steel elements)
Namdoo-Kim
Namdoo Kim
“Golden Binoculars” (Hand-built Ceramic, Cast Bronze, Concave Mirror, 52cm x 21cm x 38cm)
Sophia-Paraskevopoulou
Sophia Paraskevopoulou
“Chaos” (Polymer clay on wire armature, Acrylics, Watercolours, 68cm x 16cm x 15cm)
Spencer-Hansen
Spencer Hansen
“Lela” (Ceramic, Himalayan goat fur, Brass, 80″ x 34″ x 24″)
Dan-Chudzinski-owl
Dan Chudzinski
“The Great Owl” (Silicone, punched hair, acrylic paint, epoxy resin, mixed media, 62″ x 32″ x 29″)
Shannon-Taylor
Shannon Taylor
“Star Garden” (Hand cut/painted miniature watercolour diorama in vintage brass trinket box, 6″ x 5″ x 6″)
olivier-bertrand
Olivier Bertrand
“Daimyo” (cardboard sculpture, 240cm x 140cm x 72cm)
Anne-Breymann
Anne Breymann
“Innermost” (wire, paper, polymer clay, paper clay, acrylics, glass eyes, 80cm x 90cm x 75cm)
19-Ornélie
Ornélie
“Royal widow” (polymer clay, acrylic paint, 27cm x 20cm x 20cm)
Daniel-Castro-Gamelas
Daniel Castro Gamelas
“Capra Pyrenaica Victoriae” (Patinated Resin, 65cm x 45cm x 44cm)
Oceana-Rain-Stuart
Oceana Rain Stuart
“A Love Remembered” (cast bronze, 48″ x 3″ x 7″)
Karl-Deen-Sanders
Karl Deen Sanders
“Asleep?” (Bronze with silver nitrate patina. Carrara marble. 16″ x 21″ x 14″)
Photo: Chris Jensen (2012). All rights reserved.
Sorrel-Stone
Sorrel Stone
“Eve in 2024 on the kitchen floor of their ‘landlord special'” (Coloured porcelain, slip, underglaze, glaze, linoleum floor tiles, 36″ x 48″ x 48″)
Adriaan-Pannebakker
Adriaan Pannebakker
“Duel” (Resin with different metals, 90cm x 380cm x 90cm)
Chloe-Chen
Chloe Chen
“FICTIONAL SELF” (Advanced Resin, 30cm x 85cm x 56cm)
Dug-Stanat
Dug Stanat
“Wed Among the Jellies” (mixed media: epoxy putty, CosClay, ceramic stoneware with celadon glaze, fabrics and fibers, steel wire, steel rod, acrylic paint, 63cm x 29cm x 28cm)
2-Diana-Unrein
Diana Unrein
“Denouement” (Porcelain and Oil Paint, 30″ x 19″ x 17″)
Eyevan-Tumbleweed
Eyevan Tumbleweed
“Mervengarr” (Assembled non-carved found wood, epoxy, adhesives, pin-nails, & hardware, 21″ x 18″ x 9″)
Hector-Guest
Hector Guest
“Balance of Light and Shadow” (Bronze with gold leaf, 62cm x 20cm x 11cm)
Sheila-Verseck
Sheila Verseck
“The Fall” (Original in Clay, final piece in Plaster-Resin, 190cm x 95cm x 50cm)
César-Orrico
César Orrico
“Bosque” (Bronze, 67cm x 40cm x 35cm)
a statue of a woman sitting in a lotus pose with an owl on her head
Eva G
“Looking For Nirvana” (Fired Clay, 45cm x 38cm x 30cm)
21-Kristine-Poole
Kristine Poole
“Bloom” (Fired clay with acrylic, 25″ x 17″ x 15″)
Christopher-Hynes-whale
Christopher Hynes
“Sonus Harmonia” (Metal and clay, 36″ x 20″ x 12″)
Leonardo-Morales
Leonardo Morales
“CHRYSALIS” (Lime and pine wood, 140cm x 45cm)