Meridian artist named Mississippi fellow by South Arts – Meridian Star

Meridian artist named Mississippi fellow by South Arts

Published 3:31 pm Friday, July 17, 2026

South Arts recently announced its 2026 State Fellows in its annual Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts program and Meridian artist Brejenn Allen was named as the organization’s Mississippi fellow.

Established in 2017, the Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts initiative supports regional artists in advancing their creative practices across a range of visual art disciplines. Each year, the program awards nine visual artists $5,000 state fellowships, with fellows also competing for the Southern Prize, which includes a prestigious residency and an additional $25,000 cash award for the winner and $10,000 for the finalist.

Building on South Arts’ commitment to funding practices that create greater cultural equity and support diversity in the Southern region, this program annually awards a total of $80,000 to nine visual artists, one from each state in the South Arts’ region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

“Every year, this cohort reminds us how much range exists within our region,” South Arts President and CEO Doug Shipman said. “These nine artists are working in glass, textile, video, printmaking and found materials, each showcasing a different way to hold onto memory, place and history through their practice. The Southern Prize gives their work a wider stage and we’re honored to help showcase these visionaries.”

Alongside their cash prizes, the state fellows will be featured in a traveling group exhibition, which will be on display from Aug. 11 to Oct. 23 at Western Carolina Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee, N.C., before touring to additional locations across the region.

From this cohort a national jury will select the Southern Prize winner and finalist in recognition of their artistic excellence. The Southern Prize winner will also receive a residency at the Hambidge Center. Both awardees will be honored during an awards ceremony on Oct. 8 at the Western Carolina Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee, N.C.