NCI ARTworks announced the winners of its juried Emerging Artists of the Illinois Valley exhibition at a June 12 opening reception at the NCI ARTworks Gallery in Peru. Over 50 artists from the region submitted works, and the show was judged by Paula Guttilla, Corey Willet, and Shannon Slaight. Ariana Benitez won Best in Show for her mixed media piece "Present Memory," with additional awards given across categories including drawing, digital, acrylic, oil, watercolor, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
This exhibition matters because it highlights and supports emerging visual artists in the Illinois Valley, fostering local creative talent and community engagement. The collaboration between the IVCC art department and NCI ARTworks strengthens the regional arts ecosystem, providing a platform for artists to gain recognition and for the public to access contemporary art in a small-city gallery setting.