April 24, 2018 — TCU School of Art graduate student Audrey Travis was named the 2018 winner of the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Emerging Artist Award yesterday at the School of Art Senior Showcase and Awards Presentation. Selected from among five finalists for this prestigious award by a jury including former chief curator at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Michael Auping, Travis is TCU’s first winner of this accolade.
“It was a difficult choice for the jurors because of the quality of presentations given by the other four finalists,” said Richard Lane, director of the School of Art. “The jurors were unanimous in their opinions that Audrey gave an outstanding presentation about her work.”
(L-R) Janet Marzett (Vice President, Operations, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services) Audrey Travis, Richard Lane (director of the School of Art), Dean Anne Helmreich of the College of Fine Arts, and Greg Ruvolo (Manager, Community Relations & Digital Media, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services) celebrate the Emerging Texas Artist award. Image credit: Greg Ellman.
As part of the Emerging Texas Artist Award, Travis will receive a two-month residency in Berlin, Germany, provided by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. This residency includes a personalized networking program, featuring free admission to Berlin museums and introductions to important members of the renowned Berlin art community. Additionally, Travis will have travel, lodging and studio space at the international cultural center Künstlerhaus Bethanien covered along with a $5000 stipend and access to a Mercedes-Benz car during her stay in Germany.
Travis’ art, as well as works from other members of the School of Art and SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, was on display as part of the 2017-2018 Experiencing Perspectives Art Exhibition at the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Fort Worth corporate offices. These works are included in catalogs produced by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, giving the artists a high level of professional exposure.