Work of Art: The Next Great Artist


Work of Art: The Next Great Artist was an American reality competition show that aired on the cable television network Bravo, in which up-and-coming artists compete for a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and a cash prize of $100,000. The show was produced by Pretty Matches Productions and Magical Elves Productions, the same company that created Project Runway and Top Chef. The series premiered on June 9, 2010. Work of Art was renewed for a second season in September 2010 which began on October 12, 2011.

Seasons

SeasonPremiere DateFinale DateNo. of
Artists		WinnerMentors
[|1]14



[|2]14



Season 1 (2010)

Contestants

ArtistAgeArtistic specialtyOccupationResides inFinish
Amanda Williams34Abstract PainterArchitecture ProfessorChicago, Illinois14th
Trong Nguyen38Installation ArtistMuseum CuratorBrooklyn, New York13th
Judith Braun61Mixed MediaLandlordNew York City12th
Nao Bustamante46Performance ArtistProfessorTroy, New York11th/
10th
John Parot39PainterArt Studio ManagerLos Angeles11th/
10th
Jaime Lynn Henderson24Painter/IllustratorFreelance ArtistLawton, Oklahoma9th
Erik Johnson30PainterUnemployedHomer Glen, Illinois8th
Ryan Shultz26Realist PainterPrivate Art TeacherChicago, Illinois7th
Mark Velasquez32PhotographerFry CookSanta Maria, California6th
Jaclyn Santos25Realist PainterStudio AssistantManhattan, New York5th
Nicole Nadeau25Industrial Designer/SculptorWaitressNew York, New York4th
Miles Mendenhall23Installation ArtistStudio AssistantMinneapolis, Minnesota3rd/
2nd
Peregrine Honig32Painter/SculptorBoutique OwnerKansas City, Missouri3rd/
2nd
Abdi Farah22Figurative Painter/SculptorArt TeacherDover, Pennsylvania1st

Contestant progress

Episodes

Season 2 (2011)

Contestants

ArtistAgeArtistic specialtyOccupationResides inFinish
Ugo Nonis33Line ArtistArt Director/DesignerParis, France14th
Kathryn Parker Almanas29PhotographerPhotographerBrooklyn, New York13th
Jazz-Minh Moore32Figurative PainterFreelance ArtistNew York City12th/
11th
Leon Lim31Installation ArtistGraphic DesignerKedah, Malaysia12th/
11th
Michael "Tewz" Chlebowski30Street ArtistArts EducatorChicago, Illinois10th
Bayeté Ross Smith35Video ArtistArts EducatorNew York City9th
Morgan "Sucklord" Phillips42Toy Art DesignerCEO, Suckadelic IncNew York City8th
Michelle Matson29SculptorArtist AssistantBridgewater, New Jersey7th
Sarah Kabot34Installation Artist/SculptorAssistant Art ProfessorCleveland, Ohio6th
Dusty Mitchell32Installation Artist/SculptorElementary School Art TeacherMountain View, Arkansas5th/
4th
Lola Thompson24SculptorBaristaLos Angeles5th/
4th
Sara Jimenez26Figurative PainterGallery InternNew York City3rd/
2nd
Young Sun Han28Performance Artist/PhotographerExhibiting ArtistBrooklyn, NY3rd/
2nd
Kymia Nawabi30Drawer/PainterWaitressNew York City1st

Contestant progress

Episodes

Future seasons

Work of Art's renewal status was unclear as the second season concluded: In late December 2011, Judge Bill Powers wrote that "We will have to see if our work of art worked for Bravo." Jerry Saltz, another Work of Art judge, announced via his Vulture blog that he would not return for a third season of the show. The uncertainty as to Work of Art's fate on Bravo was somewhat resolved when the Gallerist reported the show's cancellation in August 2012. The LA Times reported that while Bravo would not officially confirm the cancellation, "a source close to the channel said it was "unlikely" that the show would return for a third season on Bravo." Work of Art's producers as of August 2012 were approaching other television networks in the hopes of continuing the show's run elsewhere.