Skip to main content

SFA announces Texas National 2014 art competition winners

first, second and third place winners at Texas National 2014

(From left to right): Texas National 2014 juror Jerome Witkin selected Shelby Shadwell's "A Universal Picture 11, 2014" as the competition's first place award winner; Veronica Jaeger's "Fallen 1, 2012" as the competition's second place winner; and Matthew Ballou's "Strategic Influences, 2013" as the competition's third place winner.


NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - During the opening reception of Texas National 2014 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, juror Jerome Witkin announced the winners of the annual competition and exhibition presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University's School of Art.

Shelby Shadwell of Laramie, Wyo., received first-place honors for "A Universal Picture 11, 2014," while Pharr, Texas, artist Veronica Jaeger earned second place for "Fallen, 2012," and Columbia, Mo., artist Matthew Ballou won third for "Strategic Influences, 2013."

Honorable mentions went to Serena Stevens of Albuquerque, N.M., for "Playtime, 2014," Nicole Santiago of Williamsburg, Va., for "Baby Cakes Pregnancy Self Portrait, 2013," Zara Feeney of Thousand Oaks, Calif., for "Diaphanous, 2013," and Owen Drysdale of Magnolia, Texas, for "Untitled (Negation), 2013."

Celebrating its 20th anniversary on the national scene, Texas National is open to all artists living and working in the United States. This year's exhibition features works of 47 artists from 20 states. Showing in Cole Art Center at the same is "Jerome Witkin: Paintings and Drawings," which is an exhibition of the juror's own highly acclaimed work.

Texas National 2014 is exhibited in Ledbetter Gallery, while the Witkin exhibition is on display in Reavley Gallery. Both shows run through Saturday, June 14.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House is located at 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.