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A year of work by the inaugural cohort of Seattle Prize fellows, open all summer.
June 26 to September 6, 2026 · at the Occidental Fine Arts Center, Pioneer Square, Seattle.
Showing alongside the Beautiful Things exhibition.
A program of the Conru Art Foundation — a 12-month fellowship for serious figurative painters, with private studios, mentorship, and a $50K–$80K stipend.
Welcome to the Seattle Prize
Andrew introduces the program and this year's fellows
Inside the Studios
The Seattle Prize gives talented painters the rarest creative resource: uninterrupted time. A full year of studio space, mentorship, and a cohort of peers — all focused on creating ambitious work grounded in beauty and truth.
A program of the Conru Art Foundation at the Occidental Fine Arts Center, Pioneer Square, Seattle
The Instigator
From a small Indiana farm to a Stanford PhD, Andrew became an internet pioneer focused on human connection. Through the Conru Art Foundation, he believes in art's power to heal and unite.
Through the Conru Art Foundation, he applies his inventive, service-oriented mindset to address societal needs for deeper meaning. An amateur artist himself, the Seattle Prize is his "experiment with love" to nurture artists and explore art's potential to enrich lives.
Artistic Facilitator
Tenaya Sims blends high-level creative industry experience with deep immersion in classical art traditions. Founder of the Georgetown Occidental and ARC Salon Best in Show winner.
With experience at Crystal Dynamics and Activision, apprenticeship with Juliette Aristides, and exhibitions at Salmagundi Club and MEAM Barcelona, he possesses intimate knowledge of both ambitious art creation and the Seattle art landscape. Tenaya isn't just overseeing the program — he's managing day-to-day operations while also undertaking a significant commission as a participating fellow.