Press Release: Union Square Sculptor, Judith Modrak, Wins Prestigious National Award, October 2012

Union Square Sculptor, Judith Modrak, Wins Prestigious National Award

National Association of Women Artists (N.A.W.A.) Awards Judith Modrak the combined Medal of Honor & Margo Liebes Harris Memorial Award for her sculpture, “I’m Here!”

                New York, NY (October 17, 2012) – Judith Modrak, a Union Square sculptor, was the winner of the combined N.A.W.A Medal of Honor and the Margo Liebes Harris Memorial Award for her sculpture entitled “I’m Here!”.  It was announced on September 21, 2012 in New York City by the 123rd Annual N.A.W.A. Exhibition President, Doreen Valenza.  A three member team juried over the nationwide contest.

“I am very honored by this recognition and am grateful to N.A.W.A. for the opportunity to exhibit,” says Modrak.   “It’s a bit of an ironic story as “I’m Here!” is expectantly waiting for something to happen, afraid that she may be overlooked either due to her physical size or indifference.  Little did she know what was in store for her.”

“Art is so important for our world,” Modrak says.  “Like singers who need listeners, artists need viewers.  With mutual exchange, we share and explore our broad range of emotions and feelings through visual artistic expressions that capture the joys and frailties of human life.”

The Award winners will be featured in the N.A.W.A. 123rd Exhibition Catalogue and archived within the Smithsonian Institution Archives, the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, the Chicago Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, the Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, D.C.) and the New York City Public Library.

“I’m Here!” is a pigmented plaster cast and is part of Modrak’s larger “Standing Series”.

About N.A.W.A.

Founded in 1889, N.A.W.A. is based in New York City.  The organization supports and promotes female artists through exhibitions, events and lectures.

About Judith Modrak

Judith is a figurative sculptor who delves into interior landscapes of conflict, anxiety and vulnerability. The painted figures, derived from human and natural forms, reflect archetypes rather than portraits of specific individuals or arranged still lifes.  She investigates areas of our experience that surface during unguarded moments—focusing on feelings of disappointment, loss and insecurity.  Whether plaster cast, bronze or resin, the pigmented surfaces are finished with various patinas, including oil, wax and shellac.

Modrak earned her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and currently works from her Union Square studio in New York City.  For more information and upcoming exhibits, please visit her website www.judithmodrak.com or Facebook.com/judithmodrak.