Brooklyn Museum Awards UOVO Prize to Emerging Artist Melissa Joseph

The Brooklyn Museum on Dec. 18 named Melissa Joseph as the recipient of the UOVO Prize, an honor recognizing emerging Brooklyn-based artists.

The award includes a solo exhibition at the museum, a fifty-by-fifty-foot public art installation on the facade of UOVO’s Brooklyn facility in Bushwick and a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant, according to a press release. 

Joseph, born in the United States in 1980, was selected by Brooklyn Museum curators from The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, a group show supported by UOVO. Her piece Olive’s Hair Salon (2023) is part of the exhibition, and her earlier work, Getting Reuben’s tuition book (2023), was added to the museum’s collection. In June 2025, she will unveil a mural at UOVO Brooklyn and an installation on the museum’s Iris Cantor Plaza, both inspired by the intricate floors of Siena Cathedral in Italy.

“We are delighted to present the UOVO Prize to Melissa Joseph, whose work explores themes of memory, familial history, and the politics of how people occupy spaces,” said Kimberli Gant, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Brooklyn Museum. “As her art addresses public spaces and the environment, it is fitting to present it in two major public locations in Brooklyn. Moreover, it makes Joseph an ideal artist for this opportunity. We’re looking forward to supporting Joseph’s vision for the UOVO mural and sharing her work with our audiences.” 

Known for her work across mediums such as drawing, painting, ceramics and fiber arts, Joseph creates intricate portraits and domestic scenes using wool and felt. Her art often captures intimate human interactions and mundane moments, inviting viewers to reflect on connection and community.

“I am thrilled to be awarded the UOVO Prize. For this project, I chose to reference the incredible floors of the Siena Cathedral and to think about the way public art has functioned throughout history,” said Joseph.

Steven Guttman, UOVO Founder and Co-Chairman welcomed the award, adding that the public installation would make more Brooklynites interact with it.

The UOVO Prize, now in its fifth year, has previously recognized artists John Edmonds, Baseera Khan, Oscar yi Hou and Suneil Sanzgiri. Joseph’s dual outdoor installations in Prospect Heights and Bushwick will showcase her contribution to Brooklyn’s vibrant art scene.