This year ISC had 197 nominees from 98 colleges and university sculpture programs in North America and abroad. The jury, consisting of Natani Notah, artist and member of the Navajo Nation, Oklahoma; Andrew Wilson, artist, Michigan; and Alisha B. Wormsley, artist and educator, Pennsylvania, selected 13 award recipients and four honorable mentions.
"Being featured in Sculpture Magazine is a humbling experience that reflects the incredible support and mentorship I've received at the University of Kentucky," Mitchem said. "It’s an honor to represent both my passion and the artistic community here."
Michtem's faculty advisor on the nomination was associate professor Garry Bibbs.
"On behalf of UK Sculpture, faculty, staff, SCRAP students sculpture club and I, we are all extremely proud of Josh Mitchem for receiving such a high recognition and honor in the arts," said Bibbs. "From the beginning of Josh’s academic research, he has displayed an exceptional level of artistic excellence. He has always exhibited hard work ethics, discipline, and loyalty to his artistic research, faculty and student peers. Moreover, his art is dynamic, colorful, formalistic, diverse in material choices through his artistic voice and self-expression. Josh is devoted to his artistic merits and beliefs, and he has proven to be ready for his next artistic endeavor. The ISC Outstanding student award will enable him to reach for higher ground of artistic opportunities."
Other art faculty who worked with Mitchem include Ruth Adams, Jeremy Colbert, Crystal Gregory, Bobby Scroggins, Hunter Stamps, and Becky Alley.
Mitchem's work invites viewers to contemplate the profound impact of trauma on personal identity, the intricate relationship between resilience and creativity, and the transformative potential of art as a means of healing and self-expression. Through exploring installation, sculpture, and incorporating elements such as metal, fiber, ceramics, wood, and found objects, his aim is to create multi-dimensional representations that transcend traditional boundaries. By sharing Mitchem's story and engaging with these themes, he hopes to create a space for empathy, understanding, and dialogue, fostering a sense of connection with others who may have experienced similar struggles. Embracing Mitchem's own journey, he strives to reclaim his voice, celebrate his identity, and contribute to a broader conversation about the intersections of sexuality, and religion.
The International Sculpture Center’s Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award was founded in 1994 to recognize young sculptors and encourage their continued commitment to the field of sculpture, as well as to recognize the award recipients' faculty sponsors and their institutions.
Art credits:
Anchored Reflections, 2024.
Wool, cast iron, cast aluminum, forged steel, rope, acrylic
120 x 96 x 40”