Art Spark Texas is pleased to announce the 2022 Artists of the Year
2022 Award Recipients:
- Kemi Yemi-Ese - 2022 Haven Street-Allen Artist of the Year
- Samuel Eiler - 2022 SPARK Award
- Thor’Oakley Armbruster - 2022 Lynn Marie Johnson Media Arts Award
- Patti Falconer - 2022 Gloria Bond Creative Aging Award
- Judith Miller - 2022 Director's Commendation

About the Annual Artist of the Year Awards
Art Spark Texas annually honors artists in the field of visual art, dance, music, performance, craft, media and writing. Each year, the Artist of the Year Awards are given to Texas artists who embody the spirit and vision of Art Spark Texas, and who challenge the perceptions of how people contribute by demonstrating artistic excellence or leading the way as a community catalyst for change.
Art Spark Texas is excited to announce that the 2022 Art Spark Texas Artists of the Year Award Nominations are now closed.
Download Nomination Form (word document .docx)
Download Nomination Form (pdf format)

AWARD CEREMONY INFORMATION
The ceremony will take place on September 18, 2022, 1:00 to 3:30 PM CDT in Austin. We support all winners with their travel costs to come to the event. At this time, we are planning for an in-person, as well as live-streamed, event. (In the event of continued COVID complications, the ceremony will be virtual.) More information will be posted closer to the event date.
We are seeking event sponsors who share our commitment to equity and inclusive arts.
Award Descriptions
Rules and Eligibility
Who is eligible to submit a nomination for an award?
Anyone can nominate. We also welcome self-nominations and encourage you to nominate someone you know!
Who is eligible to receive an award?
Award nominees are not required to be affiliated with Art Spark Texas. Eligibility includes all artists with disabilities, who live or work in Texas, ages 16 and up. Visual art, 2D and 3D, media, dance, music, drama, poetry, literature, video, and photography (to name a few) are all welcome. Art Spark Texas staff and Board members are not eligible to receive awards. See award descriptions below for specific eligibility.
How will the awardee be selected?
A panel of judges will jury the nominations. The judges will review nominations based on each nominee’s eligibility and the nominee's contribution to the arts. The winner will exhibit the guidelines described in each awards’ criteria. Review the award descriptions below to learn more about the specific selection method.
What do the awardees receive?
Awardees will receive an honorarium, custom plaque commemorating artistic achievement, recognition as a featured artist on the Art Spark Texas' website and social media, and an invitation to attend our annual event as a guest of honor to be publicly recognized for their achievements.
Nominating Categories:
Past Honorees
Haven Allen Artist of the Year
Joan Lawson, 2021
Robert Kelley, 2020
Randy Souders, 2019
Joan Fabian, 2018
Spark Award
Ryan Schmidt, 2021
Josh Pflueger, 2020
Brandon Lack, 2019
DIRECTOR’S COMMENDATION Award
Maria R. Pérez, 2021
Adam Farris, 2020
Susan Beattie, 2019
LYNN MARIE JOHNSON MEDIA ARTS AWARD
Miguel Hernandez (DJ MIK ONE), 2021
Tom Olin, 2020
Gene Rodgers and Dave Dauber, 2019
MOBILE ART AWARD
Gary Bachers, 2021
Gary Flemmons, 2020