Finalists for Hammer/LAXART's Inaugural Mohn Prize Announced

The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, has announced five finalists for its inaugural Mohn Award. The new prize will be bestowed to one artist from "Made in L.A. 2012," a new biennial focusing on the city's relatively unrecognized and emerging art talents.

The winner will receive $100,000 and will have a monograph of his or her work published. The generous prize is funded by television executive Jarl Mohn and his wife, Pamela. The finalists, Simone Forti, Liz Glynn, Meleko Mokgosi, Erika Vogt and Slanguage, represent a wide range of artistic disciplines. They were chosen by a jury consisting of High Line curator Cecilia Alemani, MoMA associate curator Doryun Chong, LACMA curator Rita Gonzalez, and Artist's Institute director Anthony Huberman.

Forti, a dance and performance art veteran who has improvisational performances scheduled throughout the run of the biennial, has also contributed an installation of drawings and audio recordings. Glynn's work in the show comprises sculptural installations made up of copies of historical objects smuggled out of Egypt during the 2011 revolution. Mokgosi, a painter, shows work from his series on postcolonial Africa. Vogt's installations of the scientific and supernatural include drawing, sculpture and video. Slanguage, Mario Ybarra Jr. and Karla Diaz's socially engaged artist collective, displays a billboard on the LAXART facade, and is hosting workshops, performances and public programs during the biennial's run.

The winner will be determined by a public vote from visitors to all three "Made in L.A." venues: the Hammer, LAXART and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. The biennial is on view through Sept. 2.