Statewide Emerging Artists' Annual
The Bountiful Davis Art Center Statewide Emerging Artists' Annual (SWEAA) is a competitive juried exhibition showcasing the exceptional creativity and promise of Utah’s emerging artists. Open to early-career artists and current BFA or MFA students, this exhibition highlights the vibrant talent shaping the future of art and art making.
Call for Artists Opens in May 2026
Christopher Lynn
2026 Juror
Christopher Lynn is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, writer, and educator who lives and works in West Valley City, Utah. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including CICA Museum (South Korea), Kunsthalle Below (Germany), Art Book Fair Basel (Switzerland), North Art (New Zealand), Alfred University (NY), Mess Hall (Chicago), Southern Utah Museum of Art, Finch Lane Gallery, and The Holland Project, among many others.
Lynn has held senior leadership and curatorial roles at a wide range of contemporary art organizations and academic institutions, including Executive Director of SPACES in Cleveland, Gallery Director for the Center for Book and Paper Arts at Columbia College Chicago, Assistant Curator at DePauw University, and Executive Director of the Gallery of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. From 2008–2013, his work at SPACES included collaborations with artists such as William Pope.L, Temporary Services, Steve Lambert, Jon Rubin, and Machine Project.
His recent curatorial projects include work with SPRING/BREAK Los Angeles and the Journal for Transnational American Studies. His writing has appeared in publications including Temporary Art Review, 15 Bytes, New Art Examiner, and the Journal of Social Theory in Art Education. Lynn is currently Associate Professor of Historical, Critical, and Cultural Studies in Art at Brigham Young University. He was a 2017 Peripheral Vision Publication Fellow and a 2025 Utah Artist Fellow.
Juror-Led Artist Selection
Each year, BDAC invites a guest juror—a respected professional from the art world, such as a practicing artist, curator, gallerist, or arts administrator—to select the artists featured in the Statewide Emerging Artist Annual. This juror brings both expertise and industry insight, helping to ensure a thoughtful, discerning selection process. Just as importantly, the juror provides a valuable point of connection between early-career artists and the broader professional arts community—opening pathways to future exhibitions, representation, and career advancement.
Participation in the Statewide Emerging Artist Annual opens doors beyond the exhibition itself. In addition to juror-selected recognition, the Best in Show artist will be awarded a solo exhibition at BDAC in the following calendar year—a significant opportunity to further develop and showcase their work.
Our goal is to provide a meaningful platform that fosters artistic growth, professional connection, and a vibrant creative community.
Opportunities Beyond
the Exhibition
BDAC is committed to supporting Utah’s early-career artists by providing a platform that connects them with the broader professional arts community. The Statewide Emerging Artist Annual is designed as both a showcase and an incubator—highlighting promising new talent and helping artists at the beginning of their careers gain meaningful exposure. In addition to curatorial support and visibility, selected artists will be eligible for cash prizes intended to help build and sustain their artistic practice. Our goal is to foster a strong pipeline between these rising voices and established institutions such as galleries, museums, and curators throughout Utah and the West.
Connecting Early-Career Artists with Opportunity
Through the Statewide Annual, BDAC strengthens its commitment to building a thriving, interconnected arts ecosystem across the state. By championing early-career artists, we help ensure that Utah’s creative future is bold, diverse, and full of promise. This exhibition is both a celebration of emerging talent and a call to invest in the next generation of cultural voices.
Building Utah’s Creative Future
This competitive exhibition has a $20 application fee, which helps cover the administrative and curatorial costs of organizing this annual showcase—including compensation for our guest juror and the prizes for the artists. As a nonprofit, these fees allow us to continue offering meaningful opportunities for emerging artists across the state while maintaining a high standard of exhibition quality.
Sponsor the SWEAA
Sponsoring the Statewide Emerging Artist Annual is a powerful way to align your name with the freshest talent in Utah’s visual arts scene. Sponsors directly support prize awards and are invited to take part in the award ceremony—recognizing and celebrating the next generation of artists alongside BDAC.
