NEW ORLEANS, LA.- Three renowned arts professionals, Toby Devan Lewis, William Morrow and Susan Taylor comprise this year’s juror panel of the 15th Annual No Dead Artists National Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art. All three have extensive curatorial experience and close ties to American museums. A presentation of ArtDaily.org and the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, this year’s No Dead Artists exhibition runs from September 1 through Sept 24, 2011 at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans. Submissions are open to American artists from all fifty states working in all media, and must be entered by June 15, 2010.

Founded in 1995 by former investment banker turned gallerist, Jonathan Ferrara, No Dead Artists was established as a response to the old adage that artists never achieve success until they die. Traditionally high operating costs have caused many galleries to stick with the tried and true, yet this has often led to a lack of variety in their offerings while closing the door on emerging artists whose work may not fit the mold. As a catalyst for bringing innovative new art and artists to the attention of a wider and more influential audience, the NDA exhibition has established an impressive track record over the years according to the accounts of many former participants.

“My selection into the No Dead Artists juried exhibition has given my work exposure to a national art audience,” says Dan Tague of New Orleans, who credits it with launching him on a career path that has included exhibitions in New York, Miami and Austria. “My work has now been acquired by major collectors and museums like the Whitney Museum and the Weisman Art Foundation, and anyone who is serious about their work should consider this exhibition opportunity.” Philadelphia-based Matthew Cox offered similar advice in response to a query from a gifted young artist. “The first thing out of my mouth was 'submit work to the No Dead Artists exhibition at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery.' That competition is where I began, and while it was then a regional competition, it now garners press and interest in an increasingly international manner.”

Now in its 15th year, it has attracted the interest of distinguished visual arts professionals such as 2011 NDA jurors Toby Devan Lewis, William Morrow and Susan Taylor. A noted philanthropist, curator and author, Lewis plays an active role in major institutions such as the Prospect New Orleans Biennial and New York’s New Museum. Over the course of over two decades, Lewis has amassed a highly regarded collection for the Progressive Corporation, often acquiring works by emerging artists on their way to high profile careers. She serves on the board of the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, and her philanthropy includes major gifts to the New Museum in New York, where she serves on the board of Trustees.

William Morrow is the Director of the 21c Museum in Louisville, KY, the first U.S. museum dedicated solely to exhibiting and collecting the art of the 21st century. As part of its mission in partnership with the widely acclaimed 21c Museum Hotel, it brings contemporary art to a broader audience through innovative programs that integrate art into everyday life. A board member of the Kentucky School of Art, Morrow manages the private collection of Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson as well as serving as a founding member of the Commission on Public Art in Louisville, KY.

Susan Taylor, who assumed the directorship of the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2010, has for over two decades served in a directorial capacity at such acclaimed institutions as the Princeton University Art Museum, where she instituted wide-ranging innovations in collections development, planning, programming and outreach. She is also deeply involved in the ongoing debate about collection ownership and cultural property issues, as well as in the planning and implementation of education programs designed to bring art to a wider public audience.

The 2011 NDA jurors’ selection process commences once the submission period officially closes on June 15. Beyond appearing in the No Dead Artists exhibition at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery during September 2011, the winners are also featured in review coverage on ArtDaily.org by D.Eric Bookhardt (contributing editor, ArtPapers, editor, Inside Art New Orleans, and art critic, Gambit Weekly). For more information, contact the gallery via email at info@jonathanferraragallery.com. Applications are available to be downloaded from the gallery's website.