Kalamazoo Valley's annual Alumni Art Show Winners Announced

Kalamazoo Valley's annual Alumni Art Show is an opportunity to celebrate the college's talented alumni. Winning entries in Kalamazoo Valley's annual Alumni Art Show were announced during the exhibit opening at the Center for New Media on June 6. A total of 29 alumni artists submitted 69 works for inclusion in the juried show. Congratulations to the following artists.

Best of show: Chad Sutton, "Connection 1"
This is Sutton's first year entering the Alumni Art Show. He earned his degree in Graphic Design at Kalamazoo Valley in 2010.

Director's choice: Tracy Klinesteker, "Rocky Shoreline"
This is Klinesteker's ninth year entering Kalamazoo Valley's Alumni Art Show and her work has earned awards in previous shows. She is a member of the Pastel Society of America, the International Association of Pastel Societies and the Great Lakes Pastel Society. Her work has earned awards at many venues including the 2021 Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery, 2020 Southwest Florida Pastel Society and the Chroma 2019 Pastel Society of Colorado online show. Learn more about Klinesteker and her work at https://tracy-klinesteker.format.com/about.

First Place: Erica Bradshaw, "The Guardian"
Erica Bradshaw studied illustration and studio art in 2019. Bradshaw is a graduate of Kendall College of Art & Design and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Erica's career is focused on making introspective art that educates and inspires thoughtful conversation about the conservation of our natural world. Her work has reached collectors around the world, has been featured in juried shows across Michigan and can be found throughout various murals, public art installations and shops nationwide. Learn more about Bradshaw and her art at https://todrawattention.square.site.

Second Place: Ana Hedberg, "All Good in the Homefront"
Hedberg earned her degree in Industrial Design at Kalamazoo Valley in 1992, then went on to Western Michigan University to earn a bachelor's in industrial design with a minor in art. In 2022, Hedberg's work was shown in the gallery of the Boston Public Library. Learn more about her art at https://www.anahedberg.com.

Third Place: Jacquelyn Dewaters, "Blue Jay #1"
Dewaters attended Kalamazoo Valley in 2025 to study graphic design and illustration. She serves as a board member on the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. DeWaters is a mixed media artist concentrating on photo-realistic illustrations and graphic design work. Learn more about DeWaters and her work at mossroomstudios.com.

Honorable Mention: Heather Boersma, "The Forager's Purse Collection"
Boersma's work earned the Honorable Mention Award in the Kalamazoo Valley Alumni Art Show in 2024. She attended Kalamazoo Valley in 2008 and has degrees from Kalamazoo College, WMU and Grand Valley. Boersma entered her work Covid Purse Diary in ArtPrize in 2021. Her work has been part of juried exhibitions in Michigan, California and New Mexico. See more of her work at https://heatherboersmaart.com.

The art work will be on display through the end of July in the Arcus Gallery.