RISING STARS AWARDS:
artist
of the year
The Artist of the Year Award recognizes a talented young artist who is using their creativity to enrich and inspire their community. Whether through visual arts, music, theater, writing, or other creative mediums, this individual is making New Hampshire a more vibrant and dynamic place to live. Their work not only showcases artistic excellence but also fosters cultural engagement and connection.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible nominees must live and create (mainly) in New Hampshire and must be under 40 at the time of nomination. All artistic modalities are accepted.
Nomination form closes June 2, 2025
Questions? Reach out to corinne@stayworkplay.org
past winners
A gifted artist and refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jozimar Matimano is recognized as the Artist of the Year for his evocative work that captures the human spirit. Since arriving in Manchester in 2016, through the International Institute of New England, Jozimar has channeled his lived experiences as a refugee into his art, creating powerful, large-scale pieces that tell poignant stories of migration, identity, and resilience. With a glowing reputation that continues to rise, Jozimar is truly a "rising star" in the New Hampshire art scene, poised to make a lasting impact both locally and beyond.
Gemma Soldati is a performing and teaching artist and Artist in Residence at Kimball Jenkins and focuses on clown-inspired work, created in front of live audiences. Gemma is supported in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts & the National Endowment for the Arts and was a recipient of a Community Grant by the New Hampshire Humanities, as well as an Artist Entrepreneurial Grant from New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. She is a member of the NH State Council on the Arts in Education Roster.
Manny Ramirez is Co-Founder and Artist in Residence at Positive Street Art and creates art under the name Phelany. He has completed about 24 murals throughout NH, and works to connect the BIPOC and ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) communities together by working to preserve the culture and artistic traditions of these communities. Manny brings color and vibrancy to the communities he works with and brings people together through his art.