The Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design and the College of the Arts are pleased to celebrate the twelfth year of the Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize at Portland State University and announce the three prize recipients for 2025.
A jury composed of faculty from the Schnitzer School and representatives from the art and design community reviewed 58 applications from art and design students, both undergraduate and graduate, to award three prizes. This year’s recipients, each receiving $4,100, are:
- Briana Cieri, BFA in Graphic Design, '25
- Ame Morrison, BFA in Art Practice, Minor in Film Studies (with Honors), '25
- Savannah Noel, BFA in Art Practice, '25
In recognition of their outstanding work, honorable mentions went to Clara Harlow (MFA candidate in Art + Social Practice), Max Kuo (BFA in Art Practice, ‘25), Manfred Parrales (MFA in Art + Social Practice, ‘25), and Quinn Richards (BFA in Graphic Design, ‘25).
The highest award offered in the school, the prize acknowledges the achievements and promise of our students and is a meaningful expression of our values and commitment to excellence in higher education and the arts. This year’s submissions represented works in various media, including sculpture, painting, drawing, multimedia, and community-based social practice projects. Recurring themes included identity, queerness, mental health, trauma, healing, body positivity, nature, family, heritage, transformation, and connection.
The Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design is extraordinarily grateful to the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation for their support in creating the Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize. It was established by Arlene Schnitzer in 2013 to recognize student achievement in the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design and to raise awareness of the quality of art education at PSU. With Arlene's passing in 2020, we are grateful for this annual opportunity to honor her memory and legacy as a devoted and inspired leader of art and culture in Portland. The endowed award ensures that each year, three aspiring artists and designers will receive significant recognition and a financial boost as they embark on their careers as active, creative practitioners.
An exhibition showcasing the work of the prize winners will be on view at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University from February 24 through April 25, 2026. A public reception and awards celebration honoring the prize recipients will be held at the museum (date to be announced). All events are free and open to the public.
About our prize winners