The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester (MAG) is pleased to announce the award winners from the 2025 M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival. The annual festival took place September 6 and 7, bringing more than 300 juried artists and thousands of visitors together to celebrate art, creativity, and community.
2025 Merit Award Winners
- Susie Taylor, Modern Loom (fiber art) – Rochester NY
- Mark and Sharon Diebolt, Hammil Diebolt Studio (wood art) – Rochester NY
- Daniel Fox, Daniel Fox Fine Art (painting) – Fabius, NY
First-Time Exhibitor Award Winner
- Thomas Ciminelli, The Buffalo Creek Leatherworks (leather) – Elma, NY
Introducing the Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence
2025 marked the debut of the Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence, a prize recognizing an outstanding artist from Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Western/Central New York. Sponsored by Joy Gallery and Studio and local arts supporter Richard A. Glaser, the award honors Sheppard’s lasting impact as an artist, mentor, and advocate for the regional arts community. For over five decades, Sheppard has inspired and guided young artists, from his founding of the Allofus Workshop in the 1970s to his ongoing work as a faculty member at RIT’s College of Art and Design and director of Joy Gallery and Studio. His legacy of creativity, mentorship, and community empowerment continues to shape Rochester’s cultural landscape.
2025 Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence Winners
- Unique Fair-Smith, Unique Fair Art (painting) – Rochester, NY
- Justin Winters, HBT Woodworks (wood art) – Scottsville, NY