The Brooklyn Museum has awarded a coveted prize to emerging artist Melissa Joseph.
As the fifth recipient of the UOVO award, which recognizes the work of local artists, Joseph will launch a solo presentation at the Brooklyn Museum, receive a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant, and a commission for a fifty-by-fifty-foot public art installation to be displayed on the facade of UOVO’s facility in Bushwick.
“I am thrilled to be awarded the UOVO Prize. For this project, I chose to reference the incredible floors of the Siena Cathedral and to think about the way public art has functioned throughout history,” Joseph said in a statement. “While the process and purpose of creating public art have both expanded and accelerated, the potential for profound human connection remains and that is what most excites and inspires me about this project. I have deep gratitude to UOVO and the Brooklyn Museum for this opportunity.”
Joseph’s work spans multiple mediums, including drawing, ceramics, painting, and fiber art. She has garnered praise for her rich-hued portraits constructed with wool and felt. Her pieces scale from miniature to larger-than-life, highlighting domestic scenes and mundane moments that showcase the importance of human connection, according to the Brooklyn Museum.
“We are delighted to present the UOVO Prize to Melissa Joseph, whose work explores themes of memory, familial history, and the politics of how people occupy spaces,” said Kimberli Gant, the museum’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.“As her art addresses public spaces and the environment, it is fitting to present it in two major public locations in Brooklyn. Moreover, it makes Joseph an ideal artist for this opportunity. We’re looking forward to supporting Joseph’s vision for the UOVO mural and sharing her work with our audiences.”
A team of Brooklyn Museum curators selected Joseph among fellow artists featured in the Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, a major group show supported by UOVO. Joseph’s piece “Olive’s Hair Salon” was included in the Brooklyn Artists Exhibition. Last year, Joseph’s work, “Getting Reuben’s tuition book” was welcomed into the museum’s collection.
Previous UOVO Prize winners are John Edmonds, Baseera Khan, Oscar yi Hou, and Suneil Sanzgiri.
“We are pleased to continue our support of Brooklyn artists and the Brooklyn Museum,” added Steven Guttman, UOVO founder and co-chairman. “Artists are at the heart of our community, so it will be wonderful to make Melissa Joseph’s work accessible through two outdoor presentations in dialogue across the borough, from Bushwick to Prospect Heights.”
Starting in June 2025, Joseph’s mural at UOVO Brooklyn and art installation at Brooklyn Museum, both referencing Italy’s Siena Cathedral, will be on display. The Brooklyn Museum’s installation will be located on its outdoor plaza, making it publicly accessible day and night.
