3rd Prize Winner

Lavely Miller

“God Shot Me in the Face and Then I Saw”, Acrylic on paper on canvas, 40″ x 30″.

Lavely Miller (b. 1978, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina) is a contemporary realist painter who works in large scale. Mark Jenkins, writing for the Washington Post, describes her work as containing depths that are “both metaphorical and literal. That the format evokes Renaissance art seems apt… her paintings have an eerie timelessness.” Miller draws reference from faces she observes around her, close members of her family and friends, found images in the media and film stills. She paints with her fingers, building layers and layers of acrylic and thick gel medium. Awards for Miller’s painting include a top prize at 2013’s Art Basel and fellowships at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and Dacia Gallery in New York City. Her work has been published in interviews, reviews and textbooks worldwide.

“God Shot Me in the Face and Then I Saw”: For the past 20 years I’ve painted in acrylic with my fingers. Recently, I’ve begun incorporating glazing layers and painting on paper which is glued to either canvas or wood. The paper I use contracts and expands in reaction to being affixed to another surface, creating a crinkling effect.

2nd Prize Winner: Henrik Uldalen

2nd Prize Winner

Henrik Uldalen

“Abrade”, Oil on canvas, 150cm x 120cm.

Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen (1986) is a Norwegian self-taught artist whose creative production revolves around classic figurative painting, presented in a contemporary manner. Henrik explores the dark sides of life, nihilism, existentialism, longing and loneliness, juxtaposed with fragile beauty. Though a figurative painter, his focus has always been the emotional content rather than narratives. The atmospheres in his work is often presented in a dream or limbo-like state, with elements of surrealism and expressionism.

“Abrade”: “Abrade” was made to function as a personal cathartic release, in reaction to the hardships of life as a person prone to melancholia, confusion and hopelessness.

1st Prize Winner: Tran Nguyen

1st Prize Winner

Tran Nguyen

“Star Collectors”, Acrylic and coloured pencil on watercolour paper, 48″ x 48″.

Tran Nguyen is an award-winning illustrator, fine artist, and muralist. Born in Can Tho, Vietnam, she currently resides in the peachy state of Georgia. Nguyen’s paintings are created with a soft, delicate quality using coloured pencil and acrylic on paper. She’s most known for her paintings of whimsical women and their melancholic landscapes, which often possess an air of fantasy and surrealism. She creates illustrations for published media such as magazines, books, wine & beer packaging, animation, advertising, and mural work. Her clients include VH1, Tiger Beer, World Wildlife Fund, and she has showcased with galleries across the world.

“Star Collectors”: This is a large-scale painting created over the span of two years. It depicts two wandering voyagers who travel through galaxies collecting misplaced or fallen stars so that they can be returned to their proper home within the universe.

Thank you & Acknowledgements

Congratulations to the 2021 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Winners, Tran Nguyen, Henrik Uldalen, and Lavely Miller!

Once again, we would like to thank all of the artists that entered, sharing their work and their artistic passion with us. It was such a pleasure to immerse myself in the work of so many creatives from all corners of the globe and read their inspirational stories.

As Beautiful Bizarre Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief I have the pleasure and honour of curating each issue of the magazine and our yearly exhibitions. The many wonderful and talented Art Prize entries we received have given me a plethora of new ideas and choices to pursue in future. So thank you again for your interest in the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, I very much hope to see how your work has grown and developed in next year’s Prize.

I would also like to sincerely thank the 2021 Jury Panel, particularly the Traditional Art Category Judge Gerald Brom, who gave his time and expertise to the panel, the other Category Judges: Ingrid Baars, (Photography juror), Kristine Poole (Sculpture juror), and Stanley Artgerm Lau (Digital Art juror) and Directors of Haven Gallery, Erica Berkowitz and Joseph Weinreb. I would also like to thank our major partners: INPRNT, RAYMAR, Yasha Young Projects and iCanvas; the Beautiful Bizarre team for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the prize and winners, and of course to my partner, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine‘s Co-Founder Richard Purssey. The judging process was extremely difficult with many noteworthy entries, so thank you again!

Our sincere thanks to this year’s Traditional Art Award sponsors listed below. It is through their generosity that the Traditional Art Award Winners will be able to enrich their practice.

RAYMAR Traditional Art Award

The RAYMAR Traditional Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:

$3,000 cash, generously donated by sponsor RAYMAR, creators of the finest panels! Panels are their passion. They craft their panels with the world’s finest materials to serve as the foundation for your artwork.
$1,500 cash, generously donated by SmArt School, providing superior online art mentorships since 2011, where you learn from professional artists.
Receive a beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy
The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery [Long Island, New York] 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
US$500 worth of Gift Certificates from Trekell Art Supplies, makers of some of the finest art supplies for artists of all levels.
3 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms)
Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared on social media
A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
+ most importantly, receive worldwide exposure!

2nd and 3rd prize winners will receive:

The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery [Long Island, New York] 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
2nd Prize – US$250 Gift Certificates from Trekell Art Supplies, makers of some of the finest art supplies for artists of all levels.
3rd Prize – US$150 Gift Certificates from Trekell Art Supplies, makers of some of the finest art supplies for artists of all levels.
A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
An exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites.
+ most importantly, receive worldwide exposure!

The 2021 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is proudly sponsored by

MAJOR PARTNERS