Best in Show: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Preakness Stakes

Best in Show: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Preakness Stakes   |     |  

Best in Show: A Contemporary Fine Art Exhibition Celebrating Maryland’s Rich Equestrian Culture & the 150th Anniversary of the Preakness Stakes

On View: May 15  - June 21, 2025

Opening Reception + BROMO Art Walk: Thursday, May 15 | 5 PM to 9 PM (FREE)

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday | 11 AM to 4 PM:

Maryland Art Place (MAP) is excited to announce, "Best in Show," an exhibition celebrating Maryland's rich equestrian culture through the lens of contemporary art, made in partnership with the Preakness Festival 150 and Sport Corp., Maryland. The Opening Reception will take place on Thursday, May 15 and will coincide with the annual Bromo District Art Walk, which attracts thousands of visitors, maximizing the exhibition's impact and visibility.

MAP’s Best in Show Award Juror for this inaugural exhibition is Amy Eva Raehse, a MAP Program Advisory Committee Member and Executive Director, Curator & Partner at Goya Contemporary in Baltimore City. The top three "Best in Show" artists will be pinned and awarded cash prizes: Best in Show ($1,000,) Not Just a Runner Up ($500,) and Honorable Mention ($250.) the night of the opening, Thursday May 15, 2025. 

The preliminary jurying process was executed by MAP's Executive & Exhibition Directors + Program Committee member, Amanda Burnham, Professor of Foundations Coordinator, Department of Art+Design, Art History, Art Education; Towson University, Towson, MD.

Exhibiting Artists: Alexander Yaggy (photography,) Benjamin Jancewicz (photography,) Bria Edwards (photography,) Jack Novosel (painting,) Jennifer Hudson (mixed media,) Joseph M. Giordano (photography,) Jude Asher (sculpture,) Kevin Hailey (painting,) Leonard Streckfus (sculpture,) Lo Younge (painting,) Magan Ruthke (painting,) Michael Stevenson (painting,) Murat Sener (sculpture,) Rebecca Raubacher (painting,) Salih Zeki Sayer (sculpture,) Sharon Pierce McCullough (painting,) Sophie Chao (mixed media,) Trisha Kyner (sculpture) and Louise Wallendorf (lithography.)

Abbreviated Bio: Amy Eva Raehse

Prize Juror, Amy Raehse is the Executive Director and Partner at Goya Contemporary Gallery, which focuses on exhibiting, representing, and managing global artists and their careers in the field of Contemporary Art in both primary and secondary markets, and is the only gallery in the state of Maryland to be recognized by the ADAA for upholding the nation's highest standards of connoisseurship, scholarship, and ethical practices in the field of fine arts. Raehse has worked across various sectors including museum, gallery, not-for-profit, commercial, and academic arts over three decades. Her contributions have led to the placement of thousands of artworks in esteemed museum, public, and private collections worldwide.

Bio: Amanda Burnham

Amanda Burnham is an art professor at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, and an award-winning visual artist whose drawings and installations have been exhibited internationally in venues including the Walters Art Museum, the Smithsonian Institutions, the Berman Museum, and the Delaware Contemporary. A 2025 Sondheim Art Prize Finalist, four time MSAC Individual Artist Awards recipient, and 2014 Ruby’s Grantee, Burnham holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. from Yale University.

About Preakness Festival 150

Preakness Festival 150 is a week-long celebration leading up to the iconic Preakness Stakes, blending world-class horse racing with cultural experiences, live entertainment, community events, and economic opportunities. The festival aims to drive tourism, showcase Maryland’s equestrian heritage, fuel business growth, and invest in communities. Preakness Festival 150 is produced by The Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and an affiliated foundation of the Maryland Sports Commission, a division of the Maryland Stadium Authority.

About Maryland Art Place (MAP)

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact of art on the community. Since 1981, MAP has been a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic—nurturing new ideas and engaging the public.