Menu
The Jurors

31st League for Innovation Student Art Contest Jurors

The Jurors for the Student Art Contest are Jose Arenas, Susan Hillhouse Leask and Nanette Wylde.

New York-based artist Jose Arenas creates works that explore dual identities, personal ritual, migration, and the feelings of displacement that happen from growing up in two countries. Born in San Jose, California, Arenas spent much of his childhood traveling between Northern California and Guadalajara, Mexico. His experiences navigating two worlds along with its complex process of integration and assimilation informs his work in a variety of ways. Arenas combines decorative patterns, culturally assigned symbols, and familiar abstract forms that create an emotionally resonant narrative that remains open to interpretation. Arenas received a BFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute (1995), and an MFA from UC Davis (2000). His work has been exhibited throughout the United States- Cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and New York City. Recent solo and group exhibitions include include Arcilesi Homberg Fine Art, New York (2016), Cindy Rucker Gallery, New York (2014), and Fountain Art Fair, New York (2014). Arenas is an Associate Professor of Art at the City University of New York, Kingsborough Community College. He currently serves as Art Department Chair and teaches a variety courses that include Drawing and 2D Design.

 Infinitas, Oil on wood, 48”x48”, 2016

Jose Arenas, Infinitas, Oil on wood, 48”x48”, 2016

Susan Hillhouse Leask is an independent curator who is currently working on exhibitions for the Crocker Art Museum, Palo Alto Art Center, San Jose Museum of Art, Anne & Mark’s Art Party, and the Sanchez Art Center. She has been in the art and museum field for over thirty years where she has held the positions of exhibition curator and interim senior curator for the San Jose Museum of Art; curator of collections and exhibitions at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History; chief curator at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, California, and curator of education at the Triton Museum of Art. She has had over thirty-five essays published and has been a guest curator, guest lecturer, portfolio reviewer and a juror and judge of numerous exhibitions and competitions. Additionally, Leask has served on advisory panels, both in the private and public sectors. Leask has an MA in Museum Studies, with an emphasis in curatorial issues, from San Francisco State University and a BA in Art History from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In addition to her museum work, Leask teaches art history at California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, California. She also is on the Advisory Board at the Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica, California. Nanette Wylde is an artist, writer and cultural worker making socially reflective, language-based works generally of hybrid media. Her artists' books and prints are included in significant international collections

Nanette Wylde, On Longing I, cut stencil monoprint, 20" x 20", 2016

Nanette Wylde, On Longing I, cut stencil monoprint, 20" x 20", 2016

Nanette Wylde is an artist, writer and cultural worker making socially reflective, language-based works generally of hybrid media. Her artists' books and prints are included in significant international collections including: Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; The Oakland Museum of California; Museum of the Miniature Book, Baku, Azerbajian; Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Kinder, Berlin, Germany; and many Public and University Library Special Collections. She has a BA in Behavioral Science from San Jose State University and an MFA in Interactive Multimedia and Printmaking from Ohio State University.  She is Professor of Art & Art History at California State University, Chico where she developed and heads the Digital Media/Electronic Arts Program.