Ivins Artist Kimberly Beck Honored with National Oil Painting Award

Ivins-based artist Kimberly Beck has achieved national acclaim, receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Oil Painting award from American Women Artists for her 30-by-30-inch painting, "Jenny and Tom."

 

Beck's inspiration for "Jenny and Tom" stemmed from a summer visit to Maine, where she observed turkeys up close at the Gisland Farm Audubon Center. She noted that these birds were more tolerant of human presence compared to those near her former home in northwest Indiana.

 

"The painting explores the complicated planes and geometry of this grand and iconic bird’s anatomy," Beck explained. "The composition is set up by the female’s strong diagonal stance, dissecting the disk of the male’s tail feather display. The simplicity of these forms complements the complexity and breadth of their feather patterns."

 

Beck often works on multiple pieces simultaneously, allowing for drying time between sessions. "Jenny and Tom" took approximately three months to complete, with its larger size chosen to convey the birds' scale and presence effectively.

 

The award was presented during the "A Vision of Nature: American Women Artists" exhibition, which opened on October 3, 2025, at the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia. The exhibition, running through March 22, 2026, showcases 56 works selected from over 500 submissions, highlighting the talent of contemporary female artists across North America.

 

"American Women Artists set out to change that," Beck said. "Today, thanks to the efforts of artists, advocates, and institutions like this one, that number has begun to rise, though much work remains."

 

Although Beck was unable to attend the event, a friend shared photos and informed her of the award. She was also thrilled that "Jenny and Tom" was selected as the banner image displayed outside the museum to promote the exhibition.

 

"It is such an honor to be recognized by American Women Artists, an organization that holds the highest standards of professionalism," she said. "The caliber of work motivates me to continually improve, and to support their goal to put more work created by women in museums across the country."

 

Beck joined American Women Artists in 2017 and has since been juried into multiple museum exhibitions and online shows. She recently earned "signature" status, a distinction awarded to artists whose work has been accepted into multiple juried exhibitions.