Three Black artists were given prizes for participating in ArtPrize, an international contemporary art competition and festival. More than $400,000 in prizes went out to at least a dozen artists during the event, held with 18 days of art exhibitions and activations in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“ArtPrize offers a unique opportunity to unite artists from around the world and engage with the public to witness, interact and vote upon spectacular works of art. As we wrap up this exceptional year, we’re setting the stage for a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire,” Catlin Whitington, ArtPrize’s executive director, said in a statement.

Black artist Abdoulaye Conde won first place and $125,000 for his piece, a massive, bright, detailed mural depicting elephants in the African wilderness. Conde, who was born and raised in Guinea, West Africa, but now lives in Chicago, won following praise from a hand-picked committee comprised of esteemed members — Jonathan Levine, Josh Solas, Coka Trevino, Briana Yarhouse and Rachel Winter — who evaluated the judging competition.

"Raining Wisdom" was painted by Conde on the west side of a two-storey building at the corner of Ottawa Avenue NW and Louis Street SW in downtown Grand Rapids. He said he spent 25 days working from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to finish the mural in time for the start of ArtPrize on Sept. 14.

Other winners included Aryel René Jackson, who created “The Future is a Constant Wake” on display at Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. She took home $20,000.

“The Future is a Constant Wake” considers a narrative where the future is reconciled with historical trauma. It raises questions about the role that land can play in holding traces of a community’s past suffering — which continue to haunt the present, buried but not forgotten —possibly excavated to constitute alternative archives.

Maya James also won the Vanguard Award for Contemporary Black Artists for her piece, #NoMoreStolenSist(a)s” on display at Zabház, earning $15,000. See the complete list of winners here.

“The competition was fierce this year, and it was an honour to offer each of our 950 participating artists a platform in Grand Rapids to showcase their creativity throughout our beautiful city,” Whittington said.