The Seattle Prize · Founding cohort, 2025–26
Year one fellows.
“Technical skill is foundational, but true masterpieces arise from a profound connection to the work's audience and a deep caring and love for the story being told.”
Jackson Wrede, The Fishmongers of Pike Place Market, 2026
The Fishmongers of Pike Place Market, 2026. Oil on linen. 
Founding fellow
Jackson Wrede
Chicago · University of Notre Dame · Kendall College of Art and Design
The Veil Between, 2025. Oil on linen panel. 
Founding fellow
Emma Garay
Southern California · Florence Academy of Art
The Steward, 2025. Oil on linen panel. 
Founding fellow
Diego Glazer
Nebraska and Querétaro · Angel Academy of Art, Florence
Dead Wood, 2026. Oil on linen. 
Founding fellow
Daniel Zalla
Northern Kentucky · Florence Academy of Art
The Silence Between Hours, 2026. Oil on linen. 
Founding fellow
Nick Eisele
Texas · Schuler School of Fine Arts, Baltimore
Self-Portrait, 2026. Oil on linen. 
Founding fellow
Agustina Forest
Buenos Aires · Seattle
Defeated, 2025–26. Oil. 
Founding fellow
Lukas Freudenberg
Germany · Florence Academy of Art
Flight of Shadow, 2026. Oil on linen. 
Artistic facilitator
Tenaya Sims
Seattle · Director, Georgetown Atelier
In the studio
A painting from each fellow.
I · Founding fellow
Jackson Wrede
Chicago · University of Notre Dame · Kendall College of Art and Design
“Beneath the spectacle of the finished display exists the dignity of hard work.”
The Fishmongers of Pike Place Market, 2026. Oil on linen.
II · Founding fellow
Emma Garay
Southern California · Florence Academy of Art
“Painting from life continues to present puzzles and complications but never ceases to be the most rewarding and engaging of the processes I have attempted.”
The Veil Between, 2025. Oil on linen panel.
III · Founding fellow
Diego Glazer
Nebraska and Querétaro · Angel Academy of Art, Florence
“In a digital world I prefer to work with my hands.”
The Steward, 2025. Oil on linen panel.
IV · Founding fellow
Daniel Zalla
Northern Kentucky · Florence Academy of Art
“The beginning of a new painting is full of energy and potential, the middle is a brutal wrestling match, and the finishing touches during the last 10% are glorious.”
Dead Wood, 2026. Oil on linen.
V · Founding fellow
Nick Eisele
Texas · Schuler School of Fine Arts, Baltimore
“Painting always gets me in a meditative state and it puts me in the mindset to think through problems.”
The Silence Between Hours, 2026. Oil on linen.
VI · Founding fellow
Agustina Forest
Buenos Aires · Seattle
“In this case humbling allows you to listen, giving place to co-creation.”
Self-Portrait, 2026. Oil on linen.
VII · Founding fellow
Lukas Freudenberg
Germany · Florence Academy of Art
“From left to right I like to use ivory black, ultramarine blue, viridian green, transparent red oxide, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, yellow ochre and most importantly my homemade lead white.”
Defeated, 2025–26. Oil.
VIII · Artistic facilitator
Tenaya Sims
Seattle · Director, Georgetown Atelier
“Before I ventured into classical painting, I came from the world of comics and graphic novels, and this stage always reminds me of inking over a pencil draft of a page.”
Flight of Shadow, 2026. Oil on linen.