Gov. Cox and First Lady Cox honor Utah artists at Governor’s Mansion Artist Awards Event
Salt Lake City, Utah (Nov. 29, 2023) – On Nov. 29, 2023, Gov. Cox and First Lady Cox honored Utah artists at the Governor’s Mansion Artis Awards event.
Continuing our great Utah tradition of honoring and supporting artists, we are pleased to present the Utah Governor’s Mansion Artist Award to two artists who have brought us beauty that can be both seen and felt.
Jeff Hein:
Not originally from Utah, Jeff came out West to study painting and drawing at Ricks College, Salt Lake Community College, and the University of Utah. Jeff is celebrated for his evocative paintings in the Naturalist style. He specializes in portraits, multi-figure paintings, and large scale still-life works. When you look at a Jeff Hein painting, it’s not just the accuracy of detail that stands out, but the emotional presence and depth of character present in his subjects.
Jeff works predominantly with live models and his own imagination. He approaches each painting as a personal record of his experience with his subject, whether that be a person, animal, or landscape. He believes an artwork is not just a beautiful object, but an embodiment of the artist and subject’s own histories.
Jeff has deservedly received prestigious publication features and society awards. His work is included in notable fine art collections in Utah and throughout the country. He has served for ten years as a faculty artist for the Portrait Society of America conference. In 2002, he founded what is now called the Hein Atelier of Art in Salt Lake City, where he mentors over fifty apprentices in the Naturalist tradition. In 2022, he started the Undraped Artist Podcast, where he explores the works and practices of artists he admires. We so easily recognize the contributions Jeff is making in Utah’s fine art community and we are honored he is here to accept this award.
Joel Rosenberg:
Joel Rosenberg is the Music Director of the American West Symphony, the Paradigm Chamber Orchestra, and a long-time collaborator with the University of Utah’s piano and opera departments. A violist himself, Joel is a graduate of The Juilliard School and a recipient of a Fulbright grant to study music in Rome, Italy.
Joel has a widely acclaimed performance history here in Utah with his work at the American West Symphony and partnerships with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. His performances are not events to miss. Every July 4th, Joel conducts a Pops Concert at the Sandy Amphitheatre, surprising the audience with something unexpected each year. For example, one year he donned a 10-foot tall dinosaur costume to conduct the soundtrack of Jurassic Park. At another event, he arrived as Batman, dramatically driving onto stage in a Batmobile, accidentally catching his own cape in the back wheel. It is not just Joel’s good humor that makes him a treasured member of the music community in Utah. He also conducts the Paradigm Concert Series, an installment of fundraisers hosted to raise funds for many of Utah’s honorable charities. In his capacities as a Music Director, conductor, and mentor, Joel has contributed to the education of hundreds of young musicians for over twenty years.
Joel has traveled throughout the world conducting some of the world’s finest orchestras and partnering with decorated organizations. Unsurprisingly, his viola career is just as accomplished. We are delighted Joel is here with us tonight to receive this award.
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