April 23–August 6, 2023
Docent Gallery
The Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition (RFLX), a long-running showcase for artists from western and central New York, returns to the Memorial Art Gallery for its 68th installment during the spring of 2023. On view from April 23 – August 6, 2023, this year’s exhibition is being juried by Molly Donovan, curator of contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Every two years, Rochester’s oldest and longest-running juried exhibition showcases the talents of emerging and established artists from a 27-county region. These artists are eligible for cash awards, among them the $1,500 Memorial Art Gallery Award, selected by the juror; the Alice Koret Award, presented by museum docents; and the Harris Popular Vote Award, selected by visitors during the first two weeks of the exhibition. In 2023, artists are eligible for several cash prizes totaling more than $4,500. The first five will be announced at the members’ opening reception, and the Harris Popular Vote Award will be announced during the run of the exhibition.
After careful consideration, the 68th RFLX artists have been selected by this year’s Juror, Molly Donovan. Thank you to everyone who submitted entries, and congratulations to those selected!
Molly Donovan is curator of contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art, where she has worked since 1993. During her tenure, she has curated international touring exhibitions, including Warhol: Headlines (2012–13), and Rachel Whiteread (2017–19), on which she collaborated with Ann Gallagher at Tate Britain. Recently, Molly co-curated with Kanitra Fletcher and Steve Nelson the Washington presentation of Afro-Atlantic Histories (2022). Molly’s permanent collection exhibitions and acquisitions have reshaped the Gallery’s program to include more works by living artists, particularly women and people of color. Among her many such presentations are: Lynda Benglis (2021), Barbara Kruger: Profiles (2016–17), and Christo and Jeanne Claude in the Vogel Collection (2002). She has initiated several innovative commissions at the Gallery, including Roxy Paine’s Graft (2009), Leo Villareal’s Multiverse (2008), and Andy Goldsworthy’s Roof (2004–05). Molly has written and lectured on many other, including Janine Antoni, María Berrío, Byron Kim, Kimsooja, Teresita Fernandez, Glenn Ligon, Richard Tuttle, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Molly grew up in Buffalo, NY, and she is excited to reconnect with her western New York roots as Juror of the 68th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition.
In March 1914, just five months after opening its doors, the Memorial Art Gallery hosted its first Rochester Art Club (RAC) exhibition; the yearly show had been a fixture of the local art scene for three decades, growing steadily in size and scope. It took its current name in 1938, when it expanded to encompass not just RAC members but also artists living in 19 counties of western New York. More changes were in store. These days, the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition generally takes place every two years and serves a 27-county area.
One thing hasn’t changed, however: because of the competitive nature of the show, only a small percentage of works submitted are chosen. As a result, the exhibition remains a prestigious showcase for artists in western and central New York. Past award winners, many of whom have gone on to establish national reputations, include Wendell Castle, Albert Paley, Honoré Sharrer, Hans Christensen, Bill Stewart, Graham Marks, and Kathy Calderwood.
Supporting Sponsor
Rubens Family Foundation
Associate Sponsor
Elaine P. and Richard U. Wilson Foundation
Contributing Sponsors
Chris and Mike Haefner
Paul Marc Ness and Pamela Miller Ness
Fellow Sponsor
Nancy G. Curme
Friend Sponsor
Deanne Molinari
Memorial Art Gallery Endowed Fund Support
John D. Greene Endowment for Contemporary Exhibitions
Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Fund
Nancy R. Turner Fund for Special Exhibitions
