First Annual Art Awards

Ron Pruitt will present the “First Annual Art Awards” at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Oct. 29, 2009. Conceived as a work of art in itself, “Art Awards” will recognize individuals, exhibitions and projects that have had a significant influence on contemporary art.

Well-known individuals such as Sofia Coppola, James Franco and Mary-Kate Olsen will announce winners from the 11 categories. Artist Joan Jonas and curator Kasper König will also be honored for lifetime achievement. A council of more than 400 artists and art professionals selected the nominees.

This year’s nominees are:

Artist of the Year

Louise Bourgeois

Urs Fischer

Dan Graham

Mary Heilmann

Curator of the Year

Klaus Biesenbach

Daniel Birnbaum

Connie Butler
Massimiliano Gioni

Exhibition Outside the United States

Francis Bacon, Tate Britain, London
Jeff Koons Versailles, Château de Versailles, Versailles

Mike Kelley: Educational Complex Onwards: 1995–2008, Wiels Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels

Wolfgang Tillmans: Lighter, Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin

Group Show of the Year, Gallery

“A Twilight Art,” Harris Lieberman, New York

“Who’s Afraid of Jasper Johns?” Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York

“Your Gold Teeth II,” Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York

“ZERO in New York,” Sperone Westwater, New York

Group Show of the Year, Museum
“After Nature,” New Museum, New York

“The Pictures Generation, 1974–1984,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

“The Quick and the Dead,” Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

“WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution,” P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, New York

New Artist of the Year

Elad Lassry

Daniel McDonald

Marlo Pascual

Ryan Trecartin

The Rob Pruitt Award

To be announced the evening of Oct. 29

Solo Show of the Year, Gallery

Cindy Sherman, Metro Pictures, New York

Manzoni: A Retrospective, Gagosian Gallery, New York

Paul Sharits, Greene Naftali Gallery, New York

Picasso: Mosqueteros, Gagosian Gallery, New York

Solo Show of the Year, Museum

“Dan Graham: Beyond,” the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

“Lawrence Weiner: As Far as the Eye Can See,” the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

“Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton,” New Museum, New York

“Martin Kippenberger: The Problem Perspective,” the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Writer of the Year

Tim Griffin
John Kelsey

Walter Robinson

Jerry Saltz

“Art Awards” is sponsored by the Calvin Klein Collection and presented in association with White Columns. Net proceeds from this event will go to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, White Columns and Studio in A School, which are all not-for-profit organizations.

Image by Thomas Mueller, A bright new use for an empty Champagne bottle: the 2009 Art Awards statuette, courtesy of The Moment