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The following independent jurors were selected and invited to participate.

Barbara O’Brien
Independent Contemporary Art curator/critic/consultant
Executive Director, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 2012-2017;Chief Curator and
Director of Exhibitions and Collections, 2009 – 2012

Benjamin Hickey
Curator at Hilliard Art Museum, U.L. at Lafayette

Samuel W. Kho
Arts Professional, Independent curator and writer

“As regards to my judgement of which artist to recommend for the SAALM 2021 Artist
of the Year, I am strongly in the camp of Raul Gonzalez. His art ranges from acrylic
on canvas to mixed media on wood panel, from graphite, pen and pencil on paper to
“story time” performances, from small works on concrete to gallery-scaled installations.
Connecting the use of traditional material to the world of social practice art is a daring
leap indeed. Gonzalez uses the narrative of father as caretaker to powerful emotional
effect, while also having an impressive command of the history and impact of geometric
abstraction.
The range of his practice and the quality of all the presented works of art would allow
for a dynamic that has both social and aesthetic meaning. At a time when art should be
understood as part of the depth of a community, I believe that by selecting Gonzalez the
SAALM would be making a powerful statement of inclusion and experimentation; honoring
art making traditions while bridging cultural boundaries.”
- Barbara O’Brien

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