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.
SWEAA Applications Are Open Until July 17, 11:59PM
Jorge Rojas
2025 Juror
Jorge Rojas is a multidisciplinary artist, independent curator, and educator. He studied Art at the University of Utah and Bellas Artes in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Rojas uses visual art, performance, and social engagement to examine cultural, social, and mediated communication and art production forms. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in multiple museum collections, including The Mexican Museum, San Francisco; Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach; New Jersey State Museum, Trenton; Alice Merrill Horne/Utah Arts & Museums; and Salt Lake County, Utah. From 2015-2021, Rojas served as director of learning and engagement at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. In 2019, Artists of Utah/15 Bytes named Rojas one of Utah’s Most Influential Artists. In 2022, he was selected as a Visual Arts Fellow for Utah Arts & Museums and received the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Artist Award. In 2024, he received a NALAC Fund for the Arts award. Rojas’s combined practice as an artist, curator, and educator aligns with his passion for working with artists, arts institutions, and communities toward social, racial, and cultural justice.
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.
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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. 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
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.