The 6th Annual Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Grand Finale Hosted by Russell Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation and Bombay Sapphire Gin

For the first time ever, Rosario announces her partnership with the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series program, which was launched in 2010 as a collaboration between Russell & Danny Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation and Bombay Sapphire gin. The ARTISAN SERIES competition fosters the talents of emerging multicultural artists through a nationwide search for the best up-and-coming names in visual arts. Each year, a handful of finalists are selected from thousands of online submissions and local gallery events to showcase their works in front of the world’s top art critics and buyers during Art Basel Miami at the SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Show. A majority of these undiscovered artists come from inner-city communities, where such opportunities are harder to come by.

For the second year in a row, the top three winning artists from the Artisan Series Finale (announced during Basel) will receive the unique opportunity to create a largescale public mural installation in their hometowns, helping to bring their visions to life as well as give back to their local communities. For the first time this year, Rosario Dawson will act as special guest judge of the competition and actually collaborate with the national grand finale winner on developing a massive mural installation in his/her hometown OR NYC, in Spring 2016.

Since its inception, the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series competition has received more than 20,000 submissions, and over $260,000 of artwork by competition finalists has been sold. In 2012, Chicago finalist Hebru Brantley sold his finale piece to Jay Z for $20,000 during Art Basel. Brantley went on to paint Lil Wayne’s skate park and was commissioned by Swizz Beatz in 2013 to create a custom piece. More recently, 2014 National Winner Kristine Mays’ incredible work was purchased by Star Wars film director George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson at the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series solo exhibit at SCOPE NYC – a testament to the exceptional caliber of talent receiving exposure from this annual multicultural arts competition. www.bombayartisan.com