Kandy G Lopez is the winner of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art

The Gibbes Museum of Art is proud to announce Kandy Lopez as the 2025 winner of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art.

The 2025 panelists included Destinee Filmore, Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, The Met; Kimberli Gant, Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum; Demond Melancon, Artist + past 1858 Prize winner; Julie Pierotti, Martha R. Robinson Curator, Dixon Gallery & Gardens (Memphis, TN); and Society 1858 co-chairs including Shane David Hall with The Fine Art Group, and Matt Mill with The Art Mag. 

MEET THE 2025 WINNER

Kandy G Lopez (b. 1987, New Jersey) is a multidisciplinary portrait artist exploring cultural identity, representation, and power through fiber, painting, glass, and mixed media. Born to Dominican parents, she draws from her experience navigating multiple cultural landscapes.

Lopez holds a BFA in Painting and a BS in Marketing/Management from the University of South Florida and earned her MFA in Painting from Florida Atlantic University in 2014. Her background in both fine arts and business informs her meticulous material investigations and strategic engagement with art institutions. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and Arts at Nova Southeastern University, where she integrates critical theory with hands-on material practice.

Artwork credits:

(Above) City Girls, 2025, yarn and spray paint on hook mesh, 14' x 8.5'

2025 FINALISTS

Oluwatobi Adewumi is a contemporary artist whose multimedia drawings explore the intersection of identity, culture, and migration. Born in Nigeria and now based in McNeil, Arkansas, Adewumi’s work reflects his personal journey of navigating the complexities of assimilation into American society while preserving his African heritage.

His art bridges realism and abstraction, layering figures and portraits to create narratives that resonate with viewers on multiple levels. Each piece tells a "story within a story," inviting audiences to engage deeply with themes of belonging, resilience, and transformation.

Charcoal and acrylic paint are among his most trusted tools, allowing him to freely manipulate texture, depth, and form to convey the emotions and experiences of his subjects. His distinctive approach highlights the nuances of the immigrant experience, addressing challenges, triumphs, and the rich tapestry of cultural identity.

Adewumi’s work not only reflects his personal journey but also serves as a broader commentary on sociocultural dynamics, making his art both intimate and universally poignant.

Not Mine, 2024. Charcoal, acrylic, collage on canvas. 40 x 30 inches.

Tommy Kha (b. Memphis, TN) is a photographer currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Kha holds an MFA in Photography from Yale University, where he currently teaches. 

He is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow. 

He is previously a recipient of the Hayes Prize, Next Step Award, and Foam Talent, and NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow. He has had solo shows at Higher Pictures, Baxter St. at the Camera Club of New York, and Blue Sky Gallery. Kha’s work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Aperture, the New Yorker, among other publications. 

Currently, Kha studies kung fu under Sifu Ken Lo. He joined Higher Pictures in 2022. His first major publication, Half, Full, Quarter was published by Aperture in February 2023. 

Constellations (XXIV), Verplanck, NY, 2024.

SAVE THE DATE

Celebrate Kandy Lopez in style and learn more about her and her work. More details for events coming soon, but save the date for the hottest tickets in town.

Amy P. Coy Forum

Friday, February 6, 2026

Winter Party

Saturday, February 7, 2026

THE 1858 PRIZE FOR CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN ART In recent years, the Gibbes has strengthened its focus on living artists through the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. Established in 2007, the Prize awards $10,000 to a living artist whose work contributes to a new understanding of the arts in the South. Presented annually, the prize recognizes an artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of achievement in any media. This Prize has awarded over $160,000 to artists as well as implemented a new initiative to display one work by the Prize Winner in the Mary Jackson Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery within the Gibbes for one year. The Museum has also been fortunate enough to acquire artworks by Prize Winners and Finalists through the years to diversify and expand the contemporary permanent collection.

ABOUT SOCIETY 1858 A group of dynamic young collectors who support the Gibbes Museum of Art with social and educational programs tailored for up-and-coming art patrons, Society 1858 takes its name from the year that the Carolina Art Association was established. Although the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors in 1905, the museum's art collection began in 1858. Members gather several times a year to explore exclusive private art collections, experience new local exhibitions, and host the annual Society 1858 Winter Party.