Guinean artist Abdoulaye Conde won the ArtPrize 2023 public vote grand prize with his impressive artwork, ‘Raining Wisdom.’ The mural, which portrayed huge and colourful elephants in a vibrant habitat, captured the hearts and minds of festival-goers with its exciting colours and profound imagery.
‘Raining Wisdom’ adorned the west side of a building in downtown Grand Rapids. It is situated at the intersection of Ottawa Avenue NW and Louis Street SW. Conde is originally from Guinea in West Africa but now lives in Chicago. He worked tirelessly for 25 days transforming the blank canvas into the beauty it is. Conde explained that his mural paid tribute to the wise, powerful, and intelligent nature of these majestic creatures. He also said he aimed to celebrate them for their nurturing qualities within their herds.
Conde’s accomplishment was artistically exceptional and financially rewarding, as he stood out among nearly 700 entries displayed at ArtPrize to receive the grand prize of $125,000. Conde’s achievement underscored his artistic talent and his ability to capture the essence of nature with unparalleled brilliance. His mural served as a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the profound impact art could have on communities.
Rebecca Humes secured second place with her captivating creation, “Tale of Ten Dresses,” exhibited at JW Marriott Grand Rapids, earning a remarkable prize of $50,000. Meanwhile, Peggy Slattery was bestowed with the third-place honour for her exquisite piece, “An Iris Collection of 5,” exhibited at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, earning her a well-deserved prize of $25,000.
