he Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announced the top Bethesda Painting Awards prize winners on Wednesday evening during the exhibition’s opening at Gallery B. Nicole Santiago of Williamsburg, VA was awarded “Best in Show” with $10,000; Stephanie Cobb of Washington, D.C. was named second place and was given $2,000 and Kate Fleming of Arlington, VA received third place and was awarded $1,000. Additionally, Lindsay Mueller of Arlington, VA was recognized with the Young Artist Award and received $1,000.

Nicole M. Santiago holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art from Indiana University and a Master in Fine Arts in painting from the University of New Hampshire. She is a Professor of Art at the College of William and Mary, where she teaches life drawing, drawing, color theory, and 2D design. Most of Santiago’s works consist of semi-autobiographical paintings, drawings, and prints, containing layered narratives thinly veiled by the mundane debris of domesticity. Her work is exhibited often, having been included in over 100 groups and solo exhibitions during her career. She is a member of Zeuxis and First Street Gallery, New York, NY. Additionally, her works have been reproduced in several art publications, such as The Artist’s Magazine, Art New England, INPA (International Painting Annual), and Fine Art Connoisseur.

The nine artists selected as finalists are:

• Stephanie Cobb, Washington D.C.
• Grace Doyle, Parkville, MD
• Katherine Fleming, Arlington, VA
• Jeffrey Hall, Richmond, VA
• Trace Miller, Towson, MD
• Lindsay Mueller, Arlington, VA
• Rachel Rush, Baltimore, MD
• Nicole Santiago, Williamsburg, VA
• Julio Valdez, Washington, D.C.

The exhibit will be on display June 8 – July 2, 2023 at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E. Gallery hours for the duration of the exhibit will be Thursday-Sunday, 12 – 5pm. The exhibition can also be viewed during the Bethesda Art Walk on Friday, June 9th from 6-8pm.

The competition’s jurors were Lillian Hoover, artist, 2019 finalist of Bethesda Painting Awards, and 2012 Best in Show Winner of the Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards; Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi, artist and 2015 finalist of Bethesda Painting Awards; and John Lee, Associate Professor of Painting at College of William & Mary.

The Bethesda Painting Awards was established by local business owner Carol Trawick in 2005. Ms. Trawick has served as a community activist for more than 25 years in downtown Bethesda and established The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation in 2007. She is the former Chair of the Maryland State Arts Council, Strathmore, Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. and founder of The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards.