festival archives

This is a collection of images and videos that have been collected at the Kentuck Festival throughout the years. This collection is continually growing and evolving. Check back soon!

2022 festival recap

2022 award winners

BEST IN SHOW:

Athlone Clarke, Mixed Media

AWARD OF DISTINCTION:

Luis E Gutierrez, Clay, G-04

Kendra Bennett, Mixed Media, H-05

MERIT AWARD:

Caleb Barnaby, Jewelry, K-07

Brinda Cockburn, Fiber, A-19

Joe Engel, Mixed Media, E-38

Brenda Gordon, Fiber, E-17

Jackie Haliburton, Two-Dimensional, B-07

Tom Henry, Wood, E-16

Joachim Knill, Two-Dimensional, G-01

Don McWhorter, Clay, A-06

Valton Murray, Mixed Media, H-18

Guadalupe Lanning Robinson, Clay, H-19

Lukuise Swanigan, Fiber, D-06

Tim Whitten, Clay, E-14

Kentuck Festival judges in 2022 were New York Times Writer Claudia Driefus and gallery owner Jeanine Taylor.

51st festival highlights

2021 festival recap

celebrating 50 years

2021 marked our 50th anniversary, and our first festival after the 2020 pivot to a virtual show. We had a lot to celebrate! Check out the recap video, peruse the highlights from the past 50 years, and check out the photos from the 50th Kentuck Festival of the Arts!

gallery: 50 years of kentuck

gallery: highlights from the 50th festival

2021 award winners

BEST IN SHOW:

Robert Taylor, Metal

AWARD OF DISTINCTION:

Luis E. Gutierrez, Clay

Jackie Haliburton, Two-Dimensional

MERIT AWARD:

Cym Doggett, Metal

Don McWhorter, Clay

Nicario Jiminez, Mixed Media

Craig McMillin, Clay

Athlone Clarke, Mixed Media

Carole Jayne, Metal

Rocky Pardo, Jewelry

Lukuise Swanigan, Fiber

Steve Nowatzki, Printmaking

Chris Carr, Photography

Ben Caldwell, Metal

Marge Luttrell, Mixed Media

Kentuck Festival judges in 2021 were internationally known artist Craig Nutt and former Kentuck Art Center director/current Indiana Art Commission Director Miah Michaelson.

2020 festival recap

On July 22, 2020, Kentuck’s Board of Directors made the unprecedented decision to cancel the in-person 49th Kentuck Festival of the Arts because of the COVID-19 crisis. In lieu of the in-person Festival, Kentuck hosted a virtual celebration of our already-juried 2020 festival artists—the Kentuck Festival of the Arts Virtual Marketplace.

The Kentuck Festival Virtual Marketplace was an online space for artists to connect with Kentuck customers despite public health concerns. The Marketplace was be the center of the action and included each participating artists’ online shop where they can list art for sale and create videos to demonstrate their craft. Also included will be a calendar of live and prerecorded content, a “No Show” VIP program, and corporate partnership opportunities. The Marketplace was open October 10, 2020 - December 31, 2020.

In addition, Kentuck Art Center created the Kentuck Festival Forever Fund. For more information about the Kentuck Festival Forever Fund, please click here.

2019 festival recap

award winners

festival guide

outside 11x17-1

Inside 11x17

outside 11x17-1

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"i'm an alabama artist!"

kentuck celebrates alabama's bicentennial

To celebrate Alabama's Bicentennial and Kentuck's Year of Alabama Artists, Kentuck Art Center partnered with Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports to highlight the vibrant arts community within this state. Alabama Artists who submitted to this promotion received two weekend passes to the 48th Kentuck Festival of the Arts and a spot in this online gallery for the next year.

click here to view our online gallery

Pictured artwork by Nita McGlawn

2018 festival recap

5th in the nation!

The Kentuck Festival of the Arts was voted #5 in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine! In 2018, we had more than 270 artists from 29 states. 78 artists of those are from Alabama, representing 29 counties.