In June 2023, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, 1Hood Media, and the August Wilson African American Cultural Center joined together to launch Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh, an inclusive call for art that encouraged artists throughout southwestern Pennsylvania to share their visions for a just and equitable Pittsburgh.

Today, the First and Second Place winners in the Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh call for art were announced in six categories: Visual Art, Literary Art, Performance Art, Interdisciplinary Art, and Youth (18 & under) Visual Art, and Youth (18 & under) Literary Art. More than 120 people submitted art for consideration. First Place adult winners will be awarded $2,000 and Second Place adult winners will receive $275. First Place youth winners will receive $500 and Second Place youth winners will receive $200.

“We recognize that our endeavors to cultivate a just and equitable city must be more intentional, intersectional, and reflective of our evolving society, and this call for art represents the thirst for change that exists among Pittsburgh’s creative community,” said Gina Winstead, the inaugural Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. “That’s why we were so excited to collaborate on this inclusive call for art.”

“All of the participating artists have used their art to encourage, challenge, and expand our perspective of an equitable Pittsburgh,” said Kit Ayars, Director of the Center for Creativity for the University of Pittsburgh.

Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh winners will also be eligible to participate in an Artist in Residence Program hosted by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “We are ecstatic to be part of a collaborative process that has led to the celebration of such a diverse and insightful group of artists and are grateful to our partners for the intention and care with which each offering was created,” said Deborah Rogers, Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility, and Zia Meyer, Community and Partner Services Coordinator for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. “Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh looks forward to celebrating these amazing artists in 2024, by deepening connections between the artists and the city through displaying works of art, hosting Artists in Residence, and partnering with the artists in our programming,”

In 2024, the Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh initiative will culminate with a series of showcases and performances, starting with a showcase of all categories of art winners at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which opening on February 2 and running through February 29. Vibrant submissions from an additional 20-50 artists will be displayed at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Hillman Library, and at three Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Branches (Main, Hill District and Hazelwood) throughout February.

Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh Call for Art Winners (see all of the winning entries):

Visual Art

• First Place: Ahmad Jamal’s Dream by Lee Price
• Second Place: A World Reconciled by Ifeoma (Sasha Igwe) (she/her)

Literary Art

• First Place: Dear Mrs. Harring by Emily Carlson (she/they)
• Second Place: Alien in America by Kandala Singh (she/her)

Performance Art

• First Place: Lost on a Loom: Jute by Mita Ghosal Dance Theatre (she/her) (Credits: Choreographer: Mita Ghosal, Dancers: Simon Phillips, Hannah LeComte, Bhavya Ram, Skylar Rella, Nandini Banerjee, Mita Ghosal Videographer: Jonathan Shapiro Music: Smt. Rajeswari Parit)
• Second Place: Alchemist by Domenique Ross (she/her)

Interdisciplinary Art

• First Place: Fear by Cerrina Hagood (she/her)
• Second Place: Dysphoria Blues – Art by Hannah Colen (she/her), Poem by Shatha Alawwad

Youth (18 & Under) Visual Art

• First Place: Dual Identities by Imaan Saeed (she/her)
• Second Place: Gimbiya by Madison Shuler (she/her)

Youth (18 & Under) Literary Art

• First Place: Places I knew by Norah Gruber (she/her)
• Second Place: This is not a tragedy! by Tobias Roberson (he/they)

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