The Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series fosters emerging artists through a nationwide search for the best up-and-coming names in visual arts.After an open call for artists submissions across the country, the gin maker partnered with Artsy, to sponsor regional competitions for the chance to head south. This year a total of fifteen finalists were selected from thousands of online submissions to showcase their works in front of the world’s top art critics and buyers at the SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Show December 4th-9th.

Denver is a vibrant city known for its creative artistic talent, with over 1,000 submitted pieces from up-and-coming painters, illustrators and sculptors.Twenty six were selected to show their art at the Space Gallery on October 3rd, where Sammy Lee was selected as the Denver regional finalist from a judging panel. On October 29th Bombay unveiled the top two national “People’s Choice” awards. Aurora Colorado Artist Monica Marquez Gatica (mmgartstudio.com) was selected to advance and showcase her art during Miami Art Week. This competition provides an incredible opportunity to emerging artists to raise their international profile and connect them to galleries, collectors and curators around the globe. Monica Marquez Gatica, along with Sammy Lee, will represent Colorado in this epic cross-country competition. Good luck!

Close Up Showing the details – “Sea Turtle” Oil on Canvas 24″ x 24″ – Artist Monica Marquez Gatica

 

The message of this painting resonated with many. Survival, will-power, and the connection to nature are common themes no matter where you live in landlocked Colorado, supporting our environment is entrenched in the local culture; “leave no trace” is our motto. For different animal groups, and coastal communities that touch oceans and lakes – taking care of our waters and the wildlife is a core competence.This painting was inspired by Sea Rescue where the dedicated Seaworld staff nursed back an injured sea turtle that was really near death.Seeing several months of hard work, around the clock care, to release just one sea turtle back into the wild was truly inspirational.

Ref: https://www.bombaysapphire.com/us/en/artisan-series/finalists/

Ref: http://spacegallery.org/past-exhibition/