Commerce Township artist Thomas Tunney was named 2017’s winner of the MI Great Artist competition October 25th at the Park West Gallery in Southfield.
The gallery’s mood was festive as art enthusiasts from throughout Oakland County gathered to celebrate Tunney and his fellow finalists. Event focal points included a shared exhibition of artistic works by the finalists, and a solo exhibition for the 2015 MI Great Artist Ken Hershenson.
The finalists were chosen from a field of 232 artists from Oakland, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair, Shiawassee and Wayne counties who entered the online competition in July in hopes their entries would catch the discerning eye of the public. After 34,000 online votes were cast during two weeks the field was whittled down in August to 20 artists. A panel of art experts selected the five finalists and ultimately chose the winner.