Edwards Artist Andrew Pranger Wins Vail Painting Competition

Aspen —Do you ever wonder what happens to the creative energy that fills Vail’s galleries when the tourists thin out? On August 13, that energy didn’t just dissipate into the mountain air; it condensed into three hours of intense focus, music, and judgment inside the Golden Peak Building. The annual competition returned for its second year, hosted by the town’s Art in Public Places program, and this time, it crowned a winner who seemed as surprised by the victory as he was by how quickly the clock had ticked away.

The event, held at Avanti Food & Beverage, drew a crowd that filled the lobby of the Golden Peak Building. Last summer, the competition had taken place on the Avanti patio, but with rain in the forecast, organizers wisely moved it indoors to keep both the artists and their canvases dry. The air buzzed with a low hum of conversation, punctuated by the rhythmic beats spun by DJ Rē K. Yet, for the ten selected artists, that music was merely background noise. Most tuned out the room entirely, slipping on personal headphones to create their own sonic bubble while they worked.

Twenty-five local artists had applied for the privilege of competing, and ten were selected to vie for $5,000 and a three-week artist-in-residence slot at the Vail Art Studio at Ford Park this fall. The pressure was palpable, yet focused. These artists had only three hours to create a work from start to finish, hoping it would catch the eye of a judging panel composed of local gallery owners and art aficionados. Patrick Cassidy, co-owner and vice president of the Vail International Gallery, stood alongside Mark Kogan, an art collector and patron of the Vail Art Studio. They were joined by Dr. Peter and Sarah Millett, avid collectors of contemporary, wildlife, and sporting art, as well as Squire Broel, a Washington-based artist with over 30 years of experience in painting and sculpture.

While Terrance Greer of Avon drew inspiration from his Latin American roots, focusing on working communities and the people who give public spaces their character, it was Andrew Pranger of Edwards who ultimately took home the honor. Pranger has been working on a specific series that explores bare legs with socks, usually depicted in bed or other casual settings.

“I don’t think it’s sunken yet,” Pranger said after the deliberations concluded. “I’m still kind of in the zone of making the work.”

He noted that the three hours flew by so fast that he hadn’t even had a chance to figure out how he felt about his own piece, let alone the fact that it had won. His work captures those lazy, intimate moments we have all experienced lying in bed, avoiding the posed and staged drama that often characterizes figurative art.

“I’m trying to focus on these moments that we’ve all experienced, these just lazy, intimate moments lying in bed,” Pranger said. “I don’t think a lot of artists ever really capture something like this.”

As the judges circled, observing the final strokes and the drying paint, the distinction between a good piece and a winning one became clear. It wasn’t just about technical skill, but about capturing a slice of life that resonated with the viewers. Pranger’s series speaks to a quiet familiarity, a comfort in the mundane that feels distinctly human.

Outside, the mountain loomed steady and gray against the evening sky, while inside, the celebration was quiet but genuine. The scent of coffee from Avanti mixed with the sharp smell of fresh paint and acrylics, creating a sensory backdrop to the announcement. Pranger stood amidst his peers, still processing the sudden shift from competitor to champion, while the community watched with that characteristic Western Slope warmth.