COURTESY TODD WILLIAMSON
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation has awarded artist Todd Williamson the Pollock Prize for Creativity, which comes with $50,000 in funds that will support his solo exhibition at the 58th Venice Biennale. The prize is given annually to an artist whose work “embodies high creative standards and has a substantial impact on individuals and society,” according to a release.
Williamson’s installation, titled “Processional,” will comprise eight large-scale canvases to be displayed on the walls of the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pietà. They will focus on prominent figures and leaders such as Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Nelson Mandela. The presentation will also include a sound room in the church’s vestibule.
The California-based artist, who received a Pollock-Krasner Grant in 2010, has exhibited work at the Palm Springs Art Museum, Villa di Donato in Naples, Italy, and Art Gallery Weisbaden in Germany, among other international venues. He is best known for his abstract paintings featuring robust brushstrokes.
Previous recipients of the Pollock Prize for Creativity have included Amy Sherald and Gideon Mendel, who was the inaugural winner.
Williamson said in a statement, “I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation with the Pollock Prize for Creativity. The award provides invaluable support for my work in Venice, allowing me to focus on the creation of my art.”
Ronald D. Spencer, chairman and CEO of Pollock-Krasner Foundation, added, “The Venice Biennale provides a wonderful platform for Todd to show his work on an international stage. We are delighted to help support his exhibition, because fostering new work and the development of visual artists is central to the foundation’s mission.”