OMAHA, NEB.- Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts announced multidisciplinary artist Paula Wilson as the 2024 recipient of its annual Ree Kaneko Award. As part of Bemis Center’s Alumni Program, this prestigious award provides $25,000 in financial support to increase the capacity of a Bemis alum’s practice. Wilson — known for her dynamic, layered, and often monumental works — presented her solo exhibition, The Backward Glance, at Bemis Center in 2017, making her eligible for this honor.
Wilson will return to Omaha from Carrizozo, New Mexico to participate in a public artist talk on April 2. Reflecting on her time at Bemis eight years ago, she shared, “My solo exhibition [there] was a pivotal moment in my practice, allowing me to weave together personal and collective stories through an expansive multimedia installation. The support and relationships I built at Bemis remain integral to my work, and this recognition reaffirms the meaningful connections and shared creativity that define our artistic community.”
In The Backward Glance, Wilson transported viewers into a mythological landscape through paintings, video, and prints on fabric. Exploring themes of race, identity, and the representation of the female body, she transformed Bemis’s galleries into a processional space where ancient symbolism met contemporary expression. The exhibition was widely recognized for its immersive storytelling and bold visual language, reinforcing Wilson’s place as a leading voice in contemporary art.
“Paula Wilson’s career trajectory exemplifies the impact of providing artists with time, space, and resources,” said Chris Cook, Bemis Center Executive Director, who curated The Backward Glance in 2017. “Her exhibition at Bemis was a transformative moment — one that reflected her visionary approach to materials and storytelling. It’s been inspiring to witness how her practice has expanded in the years since, reaching national and international audiences. We’re thrilled to celebrate her achievements with this well-deserved award.”
The 2024 Ree Kaneko Award recipient was selected from a pool of nominated Bemis alumni by a distinguished panel: Hallie Ringle, Interim Director and Daniel and Brett Sundheim Chief Curator, ICA Philadelphia; DJ Hellerman, Deputy Director and Senior Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) Cleveland; Taylor Renee Aldridge, Executive Director, Modern Ancient Brown Foundation, Detroit; and Rachel Adams, Chief Curator and Director of Programs, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha.
