November 12, 2025 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) — The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has named Palm Beach County artist Sharon Lee Hart as the recipient of the inaugural Distinguished Woman Artist’s Prize. The Council announced the prize to an audience of about 200 people at the opening reception of its Main Gallery exhibition, Fiber Optics, last week, presenting a giant check for $10,000 as a surprise to Hart.
The new prize, which is funded for the next five years by artist Suzi K. Edwards through the Henry L. Kimelman Foundation, champions established female artists at an inflection point in their career. In addition to developing her artistic development and achievements, Hart will have the opportunity to exhibit her works at the Cultural Council or a collaborating institutional exhibition within the next five years.
Earlier this year, the Council requested nominations for the prize recipient from Palm Beach County arts professionals. Eligible nominees must identify as female, be 40 years or older, and have resided in Palm Beach County for over three years. They also must demonstrate quality work and a strong commitment to their practice. A separate, independent committee of national and international arts professionals later reviewed, scored, and selected the artist on a competitive basis.
“We are thrilled to present this inaugural prize to Sharon Lee Hart, whose beautiful photography, collages, mixed media, and artist books demonstrate her expansive talents and commitment to continuous learning,” said Dave Lawrence, Cultural Council president and CEO. “This award, generously supported by Suzi K. Edwards, underscores the Council’s dedication to ensuring all artists—including experienced creatives—can continue to live, work, and thrive in Palm Beach County.”
In addition to maintaining an active studio practice, Hart is an associate professor of art at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. With an environmental focus, she has also served as an artist-in-residence at Joshua Tree National Park in California, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Upperville, Va., and the Studios of Key West in Florida. In 2023, Hart also received the SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference) Artist’s Fellowship Award. Her work is in several permanent collections, including the King County Public Art Collection in Seattle and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo., as well as national and international solo and group exhibitions.
“When the prize was announced, I was in shock!” Hart said. “Given the nature of the award, it acknowledges all these years of hard work. There are two major projects I’m currently working on, so the prize is an extra dose of acknowledgement and energy that helps keep the momentum going. I’m deeply grateful to the Cultural Council, Suzi Edwards, and the panelists for this honor. Their support of women artists and commitment to recognizing our work will have a lasting impact on my practice and surely on other artists in the future.”
The Distinguished Woman Artist’s Prize is one of several recurring programs at the Cultural Council that support both emerging and established Palm Beach County artists. For more information, visit palmbeachculture.com/artist-grants.
About the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. Headquartered in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in Downtown Lake Worth Beach, the Council presents exciting year-round exhibitions and performances featuring artists who live or work in Palm Beach County. The Council also features spectacular work by Palm Beach County-based professional artisans in its Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store and offers complimentary resources for visitors in its Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center. The Council is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.For more information and a comprehensive calendar of cultural events in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com.