Since 1997, the Charlotte Street Visual Artist Award has supported exceptional visual artists in Kansas City. This competitive award recognizes local artists who are creating remarkable work and demonstrating both achievement and potential. The award offers financial assistance, vital recognition and greater visibility, with the goal of encouraging the ongoing artistic and professional growth of these individuals.
Each year, a panel of art professionals carefully selects artists from a competitive pool of applicants. The winners receive a cash grant of $10,000, with over $751,500 grants distributed to date. This exhibit celebrates the creative achievements and unique perspectives of these emerging contemporary artists and brings fresh energy and compelling narratives to the forefront of the Kansas City art scene.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is proud to host the exhibitions of the three Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards winners for 2024: Juan Diego Gaucin, Aleah Washington and Kevin Demery.
Juan Diego Gaucin
Juan Diego Gaucin is a figurative painter. Born in Mexico, Gaucin emigrated to the United States as a child, an experience that profoundly influences his artistic exploration of migration and identity. “Para una vida mejor/For a Better Life” features five large oil paintings that delve into the motivations and challenges faced by migrants.
“This body of work represents roughly a year's worth of painting,” says Gaucin. “It is a body of work that I began as part of my thesis work at KU, and have continued through my residency at Charlotte Street. It focuses on the experiences of migrants using partially abstracted figures, vibrant color and pattern. I work in oil, and prefer a larger scale. I tend to enjoy using a variety of techniques such as painting with a palette knife.
“Every painting is like a puzzle, where the challenge is finding a balance between the formal qualities, the meaning or subject matter, and the process. I don't start with a complete idea in my head—instead I allow the painting to evolve as I work and meditate on the subject matter."
This opportunity to exhibit at The Nelson-Atkins is a significant milestone in his career, allowing him to amplify his message and inspire audiences to embrace shared human values.
“This show represents a huge opportunity and honor. It is extremely rare for emerging artists to have an opportunity to show work at such a prestigious location such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the amount of exposure and networking that it has provided has been a huge boost to establishing myself as a Kansas City artist. It is an honor to be able to bring this particular message to a wider audience and to represent my community and migrants as a whole. I hope that it inspires young people to not lose faith in their dreams."
Currently, Gaucin teaches painting at Johnson County Community College and Haskell Indian Nations University.
Aleah Washington
Aleah Washington’s work bridges historical narratives and contemporary issues through the meticulous craft of quilting and colored pencil drawings. A recent graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute and a Dallas native, Washington’s artistic journey has been marked by a deep engagement with themes of unity and resilience.
Using vibrant fabrics and intricate patterns, Washington creates quilts that transform overlooked materials into meaningful compositions. Her interest in maps, both physical and metaphorical, shapes her work, connecting fragments of history into unified, evocative stories.
“My exhibition titled "Slowly Drifting” is about exploring how division of land and people contributes to a lasting legacy of urban decay,” says Washington. “My use of color and patterns in solid areas examines the current effects of historical maps. Through quilting, I build pathways that connect small cuts of fabrics that represent different cultures and histories. When combined, they create unity and demonstrate a new strength that was once lost over time. Without always looking for a direct answer, I use a playful approach of vivid colors and repetitive techniques that add to the experience of memory and comfort levels surrounding redlined maps.”
Her colored pencil drawings echo this theme, merging maps with personal memories to explore the balance between past and present.
“The fabrics I source correlate to different cultures and histories. When combined, they create unity and demonstrate a new strength.”
This exhibition marks a pivotal moment in Washington’s career, providing a platform to foster connections among diverse audiences.
“This show is encouraging so much growth in my art career. I’m creating new work that is receiving exposure and I am elevating craft arts. I have so much gratitude for the many people that support me and it’s exciting that my work is bringing so many people together.”
Kevin Demery
Kevin Demery is an interdisciplinary artist from the San Francisco Bay Area whose work investigates Black historical narratives through poetry and sculpture. Demery combines unconventional materials and cultural symbols to create thought-provoking installations.
“My contribution to the award show is an exhibition titled “A Lesson Before Dying” which covers an array of subjects and challenges facing the African American community from the reconstruction era to present day,” says Demery. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to show at the Nelson Atkins because it affords us a large audience to express our artistic visions. I am deeply grateful for the chance to share this body of work that has been central to my practice for the last few years.”
His exhibit uses sculptures crafted from children’s puzzles, wind chimes and plaster-cast hands to address themes central to the African American experience.
“Sculpture is the vehicle I use to engage the audience. Many of my works reference specific histories and I then poetically interpret them within larger cultural experiences.”
Demery’s artistic approach is deeply personal and reflective of his upbringing in environments shaped by challenges. His work has been featured internationally, including at Art Cologne 2024 and the Delta Triennial at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Kansas City Art Institute in the Foundation Department.
The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is located at 4525 Oak Street in Kansas City. See the Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards from now until August 10th, 2025 in Gallery L8. For more information, visit nelson-atkins.org.