Juried Art Fair
The centerpiece of the Des Moines Arts Festival is the highly competitive Juried Art Fair presented by Nationwide. Festival artists are selected through a rigorous, industry acclaimed blind jury process that takes place over the course of multiple days. The process is completed by five jurors who are privy to images of the artwork with associated pricing, booth images, and an artist statement. No other information is provided to them. This intensive process results in a collection of vibrant, innovative, and masterful original works of art. The wide array of art in every medium is what attracts Festival guests year after year, who annually spend more than one million dollars on art at the Festival.
PRESENTED BY
The Weight We Carry
Clifton Henri
Chicago, IL
2023 BEST OF SHOW
2024 invited artists
ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Su Abbott, East Point, GA - Mixed Media
Claudia Abderhalden, Santa Barbara, CA - Jewelry
Nanasei Agyemang, Bolgatanga, Ghana – Non-Wearable Fiber
Jeanne Akita, North Richland Hills, TX - Non-Wearable Fiber
Joel Anderson, Lykens, PA - Photography
Jeribai Andrew-jaja, Fort Worth, TX - Drawing
Dennis Angel, Edgewood, FL - Drawing
Andres Arango, Miami, FL - Fiber
William Armstrong, Sante Fe, NM - Mixed Media
Jackson Avila, Evergreen, CO - Jewelry & Mixed Media
Anna Bailey & Nathanael Bailey, Duluth, MN - Wood
Melissa Banks, Chicago, IL - Jewelry
Laura Baring-Gould, Somerville, MA - Metalworks
Billie Barthelemy, Pinewood, MN – Wearable Fiber
Lori Betz, Porter, TX - Sculpture
Annie Bisone, Milwaukee, WI – Wearable Fiber
Mike Bose, Bedford, IA - Clay
Jenna Brownlee, Clive, IA - Painting
Michael Bryant, Atlanta, GA - Photography
Eric Candee, Salida, CO - Jewelry
George Ceffalio, Gallatin, TN - Painting
Mary Christian, Champlin, MN – Wearable Fiber
Eric Clay, Orlando, FL - Digital
James Cole, Plainfield, IL - Photography
Nichole Collins, Lawrence, KS - Jewelry
Matt Conlon, Ogden, UT - Clay
Justin Coursey, Little Elm, TX - Mixed Media
Tony Cray, New Melle, MO - Glass
Chris Cumbie, Mobile, AL - Mixed Media
Chris Dahlquist, Kansas City, MO - Photography
Michel Delgado, Chicago, IL - Mixed Media
Brandon DeNormandie, Manteno, IL - Mixed Media
Chad Eames, Lexington, KY - Wood
Jeff Easley, Parnell, IA - Wood
LJ Eidolon, Charleston, SC - Digital
Ummarid Eitharong, DeLand, FL - Mixed Media
Angelika Ejtel, Garland, TX - Digital & Photography
Lisa Ellingworth, Waverly, IA – Emerging Iowa Artist
Jennifer Falter, Springfield, MO - Clay
Micah Ferin, Johnston, IA – Emerging Iowa Artist
Andy Fletcher, Stoddard, WI - Painting
Todd K Fox, Orlando, FL - Mixed Media
Steve Frank, St. Louis, MO - Wood
Leslie Friedman, Arlington, TX - Glass
Michele Friedman, Chicago, IL - Jewelry
Steve Germaine, Fort Collins, CO - Wood
Betsy Giberson, Warner, NH – Wearable Fiber
Luis Gonzalez, Miami, FL - Wood
Blake Gore, Christiansburg, VA - Drawing
Carol Greiwe, Portland, OR - Jewelry
Jeremy Griffith & Chelsea Griffith, Murphysboro, IL - Glass
Richard Gruchalla & Carrin Rosetti, Duluth, MN - Clay
Chris Gug, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL - Photography
Leslie Guinan, Des Moines, IA - Mixed Media
Oliver Hampel, Naples, FL - Jewelry
Gabby Hanley & Lijah Hanley, Washougal, WA - Photography
Anthony Hansen, Morro Bay, CA - Metalworks
Shawn Harris, Trinidad, CO - Digital
Thomas Harris, Bloomington, IN - Clay
Scott Hartley, Benton, KS - Glass
Diane Harty, Frisco, CO – Wearable Fiber
Clifton Henri, Chicago, IL - Photography
Scott Hildebrandt, Littleton, CO - Sculpture
Cali Hobgood, Urbana, IL - Photography
Justin Hossle, Minneapolis, MN - Wood
Luke Hubbard, Ankeny, IA - Painting
Erica Iman, Kansas City, MO - Clay & Painting
Jennifer Ivory, Corvallis, OR - Mixed Media
Dewey James, Ironton, MN - Digital
Julie Jerman-Melka & Jeffrey Melka, Calumet, MI - Jewelry
Nicario Jimenez, Naples, FL - Mixed Media
Clare Johnston, Tucson, AZ - Jewelry
Michael Jones, Sioux City, IA - Photography
Steve Jones, Wentzville, MO - Mixed Media
Mira Jung, Ames, IA - Painting
Kelly Kaatz, Ferndale, MI - Clay
Wiwat Kamolpornwijit, Alexandria, VA - Jewelry
Selma Karaca, Beacon, NY – Wearable Fiber
Ronna Katz, Albuquerque, NM - Printmaking
Brian Keller, Denver, CO - Painting
Sooro Kim, Lawrenceville, GA - Painting
Tanya Kirouac, McHenry, IL - Painting
Robin Kittleson, Geneva, IL - Glass
Joachim Knill, Hannibal, MO - Painting
Andrew Kosten, Brookings, SD - Printmaking
Lynn Krause, Woodstock, IL - Drawing
Ryan Kvande, Thornton, CO - Sculpture
Lynda Ladwig, Lafayette, CO - Clay
Alex Lanier, Miami, FL - Digital
Amy Lansburg, Valdosta, GA - Mixed Media
Kerry Leasure, Hoover, AL - Jewelry
John Leben, Saugatuck, MI - Digital
Bill Lepak, St Louis, MO - Wood
Linda Lewis, West Des Moines, IA - Clay & Painting
Karina Llergo, Northbrook, IL - Painting
Susan Luks, East Lansing, MI – Wearable Fiber
Ynon Mabat, Longwood, FL - Digital
Susan Mahlstedt, Kansas City, MO - Jewelry
Ancizar Marin, Pembroke Pines, FL - Sculpture
Kelly Marshall, Minneapolis, MN - Non-Wearable Fiber
Thomas Martin, Burnsville, MN - Drawing
Brianna Martray, Loveland, CO - Drawing
Robert Matthews, Des Moines, IA - Mixed Media
Jaana Mattson, Marshall, NC - Mixed Media
Mays Mayhew, Aurora, IL - Drawing
Carly McCoy, Ankeny, IA – Emerging Iowa Artist
Thomas McGurrin, Sanbornton, NH - Jewelry
Igor Menaker, Chicago, IL - Photography
Sue Mersman, Wetmore, KS - Wood
Allison Metzger & Jonathan Metzger, Des Moines, IA - Printmaking
Balbina Meyer, Lexington, KY - Mixed Media
Kipley Meyer, Clarkston, GA - Mixed Media
Michael Mikula, Cleveland, OH - Glass
Kirk Miller, North Palm Beach, FL - Glass
Dganit Moreno, Saint Louis, MO - Clay
Andrew Mosedale, Saint Augustine, FL - Digital
Katie Musolff, MyBeere, WI - Painting
Jimmy Navarro, Des Moines, IA - Painting
Janvier Ngamije, Lewisville, TX - Non-Wearable Fiber
Dagmara Nogalska Costello, Greendale, WI - Jewelry
Xavier Nuez, Chicago, IL - Photography
Gedion Nyanhongo, Fostoria, OH - Sculpture
Thomas Nye, Minneapolis, MN - Glass
Randy O'Brien, Tucson, AZ - Clay
Cindy Olmes, Cincinnati, OH - Mixed Media
Susan Otterson, Madison, WI – Wearable Fiber
Amanda Outcalt, Washington, DC - Mixed Media
Lauren Pesta, Des Moines, IA - Mixed Media
Tim Peters, Winter Haven, FL - Clay
H.C. Porter, Vicksburg, MS - Mixed Media
Ed Pribyl, McHenry, IL - Sculpture
Nolan Prohaska, Somerset, WI - Glass
Jeffrey A Raasch, Milwaukee, WI - Clay
Louis Reilly, Lee's Summit, MO - Clay
Lee Rentz, Shelton, WA - Photography
Ella Richards, New York, NY - Mixed Media
Chris Robleski & Katie Robleski, Milwaukee, WI - Photography
Andy Rogers, Lee's Summit, MO - Clay
Matthew Roman, Lawrence, KS - Wood
Marlene Rose, Clearwater, FL - Sculpture
Betsy Rudicil, Des Moines, IA - Emerging
Irena Saparnis, Willow Springs, IL - Non-Wearable Fiber
Kristin Schillaci, Santa Fe, NM - Photography
Andrew Shea, Minneapolis, MN - Glass
Douglas and Renee Sigwarth, River Falls, WI - Glass
Annette Silkwood, Saint Charles, MO - Emerging Artist
Steven Skinner, New Carlisle, IN - Clay
Shani Solomon, Henderson, NV – Wearable Fiber
Thomas Spake, Jasper, TN - Glass
Audrey Stirling, Runnells, IA – Emerging Iowa Artist
Jason Stoddart, Cookeville, TN - Photography
Gregory Story, Chicago, IL - Clay
Mark Sudduth, Cleveland Hts., OH - Glass
Tom Sullivan, Lincoln, NE - Mixed Media
Julie Sutter-Blair, Belleville, WI - Printmaking
Ken Swanson, Racine, WI - Printmaking
Scott Swezy, Albuquerque, NM - Printmaking
Sumiko Takada, Upper Arlington, OH - Clay
Lewis Tardy, Mattawan, MI - Sculpture
Allan Teger, Vero Beach, FL - Photography
Marina Terauds, North Branch, MI - Printmaking
Craig Terry, Springville, UT - Mixed Media
Shawn Thomas, Belton, TX – Wearable Fiber
Reiko Uchytil, Grimes, IA - Clay
Chris Vance, Bondurant, IA - Painting
Robert Varela, Eugene, OR - Metalworks
David Vigo, Pensacola, FL - Metalworks
Jeri Vitello, Bremen, IN - Fiber - W
Karin Wagner Coron, Ypsilanti, MI - Mixed Media
Thomas Wargin, Menomonee Falls, WI - Sculpture
Robin L Washburn, Marion, IL - Metalworks
Richard Wehrs, Peoria, IL - Clay
Jon Welborn, Pittsburg, TX - Wood
Jeff Welti & Angela Welti, Okemos, MI - Jewelry
Robin Whalan, Houston, TX - Emerging Artist
Heath Wheeldon, Pleasant Hill, IA – Emerging Iowa Artist
James Whitbeck, Montague, MA - Painting
Mick Whitcomb, Springfield, MO - Sculpture
Paige Whitcomb, Springfield, MO - Photography
Marisa White, Colorado Springs, CO - Digital
Brady Willette, Eden Prairie, MN - Digital
Richard Wilson, Wendell, NC - Drawing
R. Michael Wommack, Langhorne, PA – Drawing & Painting
Glenn Woods & Keith Herbrand, Palm Harbor, FL - Clay
Kreg Yingst, Pensacola, FL - Printmaking
David Zahn, Moline, IL - Sculpture
Marc Zoschke & Wendy Baxter-Zoschke, Springfield, IL - Mixed Media
Emerging Iowa Artists presented by Principal
The Emerging Iowa Artist (EIA) Program presented by Principal® is a juried showcase of promising visual artists that delivers a pathway into the established competitive career within the visual art industry. It aims to foster professional and artistic development while nurturing creative skills.
The program was launched in 2003 when G. David Hurd, Chairman and CEO of Principal Financial Group (now Principal), envisioned the next generation of artistry and artists. The program has provided opportunity for over 200 pre-professional artists. Some of our past artists include Ben Schuh (painter and muralist), Stephanie Brunia (photography, Iowa Arts Council Fellow), Katie Waugh (photography, sculpture, video). The EIA program is made possible by Principal. Principal is a global financial investment management and insurance company headquartered in Des Moines.
To qualify for the program, applicants must be Iowa residents currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within one year) from a university, college or art school anywhere in the country. Individuals can participate in the EIA program for two years (either consecutively or non-consecutively). Because of financial support from Principal, this program is free to qualified artists. There is no charge to submit images for consideration. If you are interested in being considered for the exhibition, contact Stephen King via email at sking@desmoinesartsfestival.org.
2024 Application Information
Applications Available on ZAPPlication - October 31, 2023
Application Deadline - Soft deadline is January 15, 2024. Hard deadline is January 22.
Jury is scheduled for February 7-9, 2024
Notifications Emailed on March 7, 2024 following REVEAL
Deadline to confirm participation/Agreement Due - March 31, 2024
Refund Deadline is May 1, 2024
Festival Dates are June 28-30, 2024