Nicole Bishop receives Best in Show at Eccles competition

Utah artist Nicole Bishop received the Best in Show award at the 2026 Eccles Community Art Center Annual Statewide Competition for her oil painting Everything is Gray. The exhibition was juried by artist David Dibble and features work by artists from across the state.

Rob Adamson earns Bronze Medal at Oil Painters of America National Salon

Utah painter Rob Adamson received the Bronze Medal at the 2026 Oil Painters of America National Salon for his painting The Hour Between. “Knowing the quality of the work represented in the exhibition makes the recognition especially meaningful,” Adamson said, adding that painting “is a humbling pursuit” and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to exhibit alongside so many accomplished artists.

Michael J. Bingham wins People’s Choice Award

Michael J. Bingham received the People’s Choice Award at the 2026 Traces of the West exhibition at the Eccles Community Art Center for his painting Western Ingenuity, Fortitude & Horsepower. The annual exhibition is presented in conjunction with Ogden Pioneer Days and celebrates contemporary artists working in Western themes.

Bianca Velasquez wins first place at LatinArte

Utah artist Bianca Velasquez received first place in the visual arts category at this year’s LatinArte exhibition presented by Artes de México en Utah. “I was lucky enough to be chosen as first place winner,” Velasquez said, adding that she was especially grateful to celebrate the recognition with her family.

Shirin Abedinirad featured in YOOF Magazine

Utah-based artist Shirin Abedinirad is featured in the August 2026 issue of YOOF Magazine, which is dedicated to the theme of optical illusions. The feature examines her practice across mirror-based installations, land art, and perception. “For me, illusion is never about deception,” Abedinirad writes. “It is a threshold, a moment in which the viewer stands between what is real and what is reflected.”

Margaret Abramshe featured in Art Quilting Studio

Utah artist Margaret Abramshe is featured in the latest issue of Art Quilting Studio magazine with an article on finding inspiration in the places we live, accompanied by a selection of her landscape works. “Nature and careful observation have always been a constant source of inspiration for me,” Abramshe writes. “There’s something comforting about stepping back into the landscape tradition—both as an artist and as a viewer. Landscapes give us a place to pause, wander, remember, and escape.”

15 Bytes

UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.