BAU Gallery is pleased to announce the participating artists selected for “Grit,” the gallery’s open-call exhibition of works selected by independent curator Jess Wilcox: Susan Barrett, Daisy Benardo, Reilly Deller, Rachel Dove, Matt Furman, Tom Hecht, Marin Kenny, Maggie Kotuk, Xyl Lasersohn, Stephen Lewis, David Link, Fernando Martinez, Sherry Mayo, Brianna McQuade, Frank Michielli, Siobhan Feehan, T-Bone Muniz, Dan Munkus, Sherry Nan, Doug Navarra, Kristen Nikiti, Michael Potecha, Jody Rasch, Christie Rose, James Seffens, Elena Syromiatnikova, and Xinyan Yu.
BAU issued the open call in April, inviting artists to submit work that addresses the unwavering perseverance required to manifest an artistic vision and bring a concept from imagination to reality. The exhibition offers three awards: The artist winning top honors will get a solo exhibition at BAU Gallery in 2026. Two other artists will have a joint exhibition at the gallery next year. The annual open-call exhibition is a key part of the gallery’s efforts to create a space in which artists at any stage in their career can gain visibility for their work and exhibit in a well-established art venue in the Hudson Valley.
About the juror: Jess Wilcox is an independent curator based in New York City and the Hudson Valley, focusing on sculpture, ecocritical, and public art. She also collaborates with the River Valley Arts Collective. From 2016 to 2022, she was Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park. There she curated several group and solo exhibitions. Prior to that, she worked at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum, where she organized public programs and projects. There she also co-curated Agitprop!, a group exhibition with over sixty artists that evolved over time and invited artists as co-curators. She has also held positions at the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Performa, Abrons Art Center, and SculptureCenter. She has a BA from Barnard College and a Master’s degree from Bard’s Center for Curatorial Studies.