Four Public Art Leaders Receive Newell Flather Awards
This year’s awards celebrate public art leaders who demonstrate a love for and commitment to their communities
clockwise from top left: Christa Brown, photo by Kevin Harkins; Rob “Problak” Gibbs, photo by Gabriel Ortiz; Marquis Victor, photo by Mavvro; Catherine T. Morris, courtesy of Morris.
Founded in 2020, the Newell Flather Award for Leadership in Public Art annually honors Massachusetts artists, curators, and arts administrators in the field of public art who have demonstrated leadership in contributing to this evolving field.
And this year, in honor of the life and legacy of the late Newell Flather (1938-2021) and his commitment to his hometown of Lowell, MA, NEFA is celebrating leaders who also demonstrate a similar love for and commitment to place, and the people of that place:
Christa Brown(she/her), Lowell, MA: Founder and executive director of the Free Soil Arts Collective
Rob “Problak” Gibbs(he/him), Boston, MA: Roxbury native, artist, educator and co-founder of Artists for Humanity
Catherine T. Morris(she/her), Boston, MA: Director of arts & culture at The Boston Foundation and founder of BAMS
Fest Marquis Victor (he/him), Lawrence, MA: Founder and executive director of Elevated Thought