Jacob received his BFA in photography from Columbia College in Chicago. His work has been shown at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s 110th Annual Exhibition, the Lab at Silver Eye and the Silver Eye Benefit Auction, 937 Gallery, the BLOC Chicago, and at the Hokin at Columbia College. He is the recipient of the 2023 Duolingo Merit Award, and the 2021 Albert P. Weisman Award.
A solo show of Jacob’s work will be held in the Tomayko Galleries in 2025.
Learn more about Jacob
Images courtesy of the artist
The Tomayko Award is an annual award given to an artist based in the Pittsburgh region with the goal to support emerging artists. Recipients of the award receive $5,000 to help fund the development or production of further projects. The Foundation seeks to nurture creativity, encourage cultural dialogue, and enhance the region’s vibrant arts scene. The Tomayko Foundation held a nomination period in which cultural workers and artists could submit artists for consideration, a panel of experts made the final deliberation.
The award is determined through a competitive application process, with submissions reviewed by a panel of arts professionals. Over 30 artists were nominated for the award, the winner was chosen by the following panelists:
Alison Oehler is co-owner and director of Concept Art Gallery, a fine art gallery and auction house in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a licensed auctioneer and certified appraiser of fine art. Her areas of expertise are contemporary art, craft, and modern design, as well as historical imagery of Pittsburgh. Alison serves on the board of Pittsburgh Glass Center, where she is a past president, and Silver Eye Center for Photography.
Lexi Bishop founded here, a contemporary art gallery, in August 2020. Following a roving curatorial program of pop-up exhibitions, the gallery was open from 2021-2024. Prior to opening here, Lexi was Associate Director of Nino Mier Gallery, Los Angeles. From 2014 to 2019, she worked in the Post-War & Contemporary Art department of Christie’s Auction House, New York as a specialist. Before joining Christie’s in 2014, she worked for Kim Heirston Art Advisory and at the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, CT. Lexi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and Russian Language from Bryn Mawr College, and a Master’s degree in The History of Art and The Art Market: Modern & Contemporary Art from Christie’s Education. She has also successfully completed training in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice facilitated by a certified AQB instructor from the Appraisers Association of America. Lexi served on the board of the Silver Eye Center for Photography from 2021 - 2023.
davine byon (she/her) is a queer Korean-American interdisciplinary artist creating new theatre and experimental performance. Currently working at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust as the Visual Arts and Festivals Programming Coordinator and freelancing in independent and collaborative performance. Upcoming work: performance for Jaded PGH's WILDNESS block party at Rivers of Steel, media design for City Theatre Company's Young Playwrights Festival (fall 2023), media design for Amm(i)gone at Woolly Mammoth Theatre (spring 2024).