Professor Gianna Commito has been awarded the Wayne P. Lawson Prize for Ohio Artists from The Columbus Museum of Art (CMA). She is known for her elaborate, intersecting paintings that utilize geometric shapes and an array of colors.
The Wayne P. Lawson Prize recognizes an Ohio artist who represents excellence in their practice. CMA honors the recipients by adding their work to CMA’s distinguished and growing collection of regional, national and international art. CMA Executive Director and CEO, Nannette Maciejunes said “The Columbus Museum of Art is proud to recognize talented artists from our own region, and we look forward to sharing Gianna’s captivating work with our community. We are grateful to Wayne Lawson for his continued legacy dedicated to uplifting our arts community and the work of individual artists.â€
Commito’s work Iris (2022), is the painting being purchased by CMA. This painting is a carefully curated composition of linear and curved planes, utilizing deep, lush colors. Her work was inspired by the familial experience during the isolation of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
91²Ö¿â Gianna Commito
Gianna Commito earned a B.F.A. from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. She has been included in exhibitions at Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; The Akron Art Museum, Akron, OH; Lehman College Art Department, New York, NY; Webster State University, Ogden, UT; MOCA Cleveland, Cleveland, OH; National Academy, New York, NY; and the Drawing Center, New York, NY; among others. Commito has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Ohio Arts Council Award; the Cleveland Art Prize; and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. In 2018, her work was featured in the inaugural edition of the FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art in Cleveland, OH. She currently teaches painting at 91²Ö¿â in Kent, Ohio.
91²Ö¿â The Wayne P. Lawson Prize
The Wayne P. Lawson Prize was established in honor of Wayne Lawson and his commitment to the arts in Ohio and promoting the importance of individual artists. Lawson is director emeritus of the Ohio Arts Council, a graduate professor emeritus of arts administration, education and policy at The Ohio State University and an honorary board member of the Columbus Museum of Art.