Graphic Design Grad a Big Winner at ArtPrize 2022

A mural created for the 2022 ArtPrize competition by MSU College of Arts & Letters alum Madison Chaffer was chosen as one of the winners of the juried awards.

Chaffer, who earned a BFA in Graphic Design in 2020, received a $10,000 prize for winning the Installation category. 

The winning mural, titled “Seeking a Pleasant Peninsula,” features images of Michigan’s ecology, plant life and prominent geographical landmarks, including Pictured Rocks, Arch Rock and Turnip Rock. The mural was inspired by Chaffer’s love of nature and conservation.

“Our goal was to raise awareness of current conservation efforts in Grand Rapids and to demonstrate the compatibility between art and activism,” Chaffer said. “By highlighting Michigan’s ecology in the midst of one of our primary urban centers, this mural will be able to engage viewers who may not otherwise get the chance to experience Michigan’s natural wonders.