ROCHESTER, NY.- The Portland Museum of Art announced the 2025 winners of the Tidal Shift Award, the national youth art prize recognizing young artists who engage with the climate crisis through creative expression.

Open to artists ages 14 to 22 living east of the Mississippi River, the Tidal Shift Award invites young people to reflect on climate change and its impact on their communities. Submissions are accepted in all mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, and works on paper.

“Art has this incredible way of helping people feel the urgency of needing to address climate change,” said juror David Reidmiller, PhD, Chief Impact Officer & Senior Vice President for Community Resilience at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. “These young artists aren’t just raising awareness; they’re sparking real conversations and motivating people to act, all through their creativity and courage.”

Winners were selected by a jury of artists, scientists, educators, designers, and advocates, each bringing a unique perspective to evaluating the bold and thoughtful responses submitted by hundreds of youth artists.

Winners were selected by a jury of artists, scientists, educators, designers, and advocates, each bringing a unique perspective to evaluating the bold and thoughtful responses submitted by hundreds of youth artists.

Tidal Shift Award Ceremony

The 2025 Tidal Shift Award winners will be honored during a public ceremony on Wednesday, July 17 at 5 p.m. at the Portland Museum of Art. This free, community celebration invites visitors of all ages to meet the artists, view their award-winning work, and hear directly from some of the young climate leaders shaping the future through art. No registration required—everyone is welcome.
2025 Tidal Shift Awardees

Division I: Ages 14–18

Madelyn Godfroy – Hopkinton, MA
“Live Updates”
Painting: Acrylic paint

Everest Orlikowski – Cross Plains, WI
“Altered Interactions”
Alternative/New Media: Fabric, thread, and batting

Hannah Sul – Lexington, MA
“Ebb of Color”
Sculpture & Mixed Media: Toilet paper, crafting wire, plastic wrap, air-dry clay, tinfoil, liquid glue, acrylic paint, white spray paint, coffee filters, styrofoam, seashells, egg cartons, pearls, Q-tips, toothpicks, headband, yarn, watercolor

Division II: Ages 19–22

Sophia Shannon – Bowdoin, ME
“Entangled Rights”
Sculpture & Mixed Media: Discarded fishing gear, plywood, and found objects from the beach

Carlos Cepeda Gomez – Miami, FL
“Domestic Spaces of Ecological Anxiety: Models of Speculative Architecture”
Sculpture & Mixed Media: 3D-printed PLA treated with spackle and primer, coated with textured desert bisque spray paint; silica balls on a wooden container

Marta Tereziya – Wisconsin
“Global Warning”
Painting: Oil paint

Since its launch in 2022, the Tidal Shift Award has seen rapid growth. In 2025, nearly 1,000 submissions were received from East of the Mississippi (26 states).

The award welcomes artists from both rural and urban communities across Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and all Native and Indigenous nations therein.

Educators have played a critical role in integrating the award into classrooms. Many submissions in 2025 were generated through school-based projects, supported by PMA-led workshops and resources.