Katharine B. Sutphin Juried Invitational

The annual Katharine B. Sutphin Juried Invitational (KBS Invitational) returns for its second year on the September 6th First Friday. The invitational aims to foster growth in the Indianapolis arts community through the celebration and acknowledgment of some of the city’s most exceptional talents. This year, the exhibition will showcase the work of 23 artists, with their pieces displayed in the Harrison Gallery alongside Subway Solitude, a neo-expressionist work by the namesake of the exhibition, the late Katharine B. Sutphin.

Subway Solitude, Katharine B. Sutphin, circa 1976-1989, oil on canvas

A distinguished panel of jurors has been appointed to review the submitted works: Kjell Wagensteen, Mark Ruschman, and Charles Sutphin. Wagensteen, a returning juror, brings 24 years of curatorial expertise from various museum settings, including Newfields. Ruschman, the former Chief Fine Arts Curator at the Indiana State Museum, adds his extensive expertise to the panel. Sutphin, who is the brother of Katharine B. Sutphin and a board member of both Newfields and the KBS Foundation, completes the panel. The competition will award five prizes: Best in Show ($5,000), First Prize ($3,000), Second Prize ($2,000), Third Prize ($1,500), and Honorable Mentions ($250 each). Judging will be completed prior to the show’s opening, and winners will be denoted via ribbons hanging alongside the works through the month of September. All works are priced for sale.

Waiting for the Magic, Kyle Ragsdale, oil on canvas

Explorer, Andrew Perry Davis, ceramic

As the KBS Invitational has no theme limitations, visitors can anticipate a diverse and dynamic array of artwork that spans a broad spectrum of styles, mediums, and concepts. This freedom of expression allows participating artists to showcase their most innovative and personal creations, resulting in an eclectic exhibition where traditional techniques coexist with avant-garde experimentation. Kyle Ragsdale’s submission Waiting for the Magic, for example, features a fantastical forest scene rendered in oil paint, while Andrew Perry Davis’ Explorer evokes whimsy and mystery through the form of a ceramic bear in a spacesuit. The KBS Invitational is a must-visit event for art enthusiasts in Indianapolis. With a diverse range of both emerging and established talent, there’s something for everyone to appreciate.

The Katharine B. Sutphin Juried Invitational opens Friday, September 6th, in the Harrison Gallery. The show can be viewed anytime during the month of September during Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The works can additionally be viewed through our virtual gallery.