Correction appended
Public art here in Philly is in a special season. It seems like regularly another young Philadelphia artist starts working with the likes of designer Patricia Field or creates gorgeous album art for an up-and-coming musician. Still, we weren’t expecting to receive the more than 125 nominations that we did.
We pored over them all. Due to the volume, we had to make some tough decisions. We encourage everyone who recommended someone to try again next year if the arts professional you nominated didn’t make this list. Last year, our Who’s Next: Arts list showcased a mix, yet had a particular focus on young people at arts organizations. This year, the field of nominations included many more visual artists. We’re looking forward to what next year’s nominees will look like.