Massachusetts-based painter John McAllister has been named the winner of the inaugural Dallas Art Prize. The award includes a $20,000 cash prize and the consideration of his work for the permanent collection of the Dallas Museum of Art. McAllister, who is represented by James Fuentes Gallery, is recognized for his vibrant, non-traditional landscapes that utilize a palette of pinks, purples, and yellows to evoke emotional responses rather than literal depictions of nature.
The establishment of the Dallas Art Prize by the Dallas Art Fair signals a concerted effort to strengthen the ties between the commercial fair and the city's major institutional collections. By honoring an artist with deep regional ties—McAllister studied at the University of Texas at Austin—the prize highlights the importance of the Texas art market and its role in supporting contemporary artists who are shaping the current landscape of American painting.