12th Grader Matvey Pukalo named Grand Prize Winner of Inaugural Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students at Mecum Houston 2024
by Mecum | April 12, 2024
• Award Honors World-Renowned Dallas-based Artist who passed away in 2021
•2024 award benefits youth pursuing technical transportation careers by supporting TechForce Foundation
And the winner is… Matvey Pukalo! The Michigan 12th grader is the Grand Prize award winner of the inaugural Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students! Pukalo was named the first place winner at Mecum Houston 2024 on April 6, 2024. His winning entry was titled 'Racing Roxy the T Rex.' The second and third place finishers were 11th grader Harmon Joel Laatsch with his entry titled 'Desert Dream Machine' and New York 10th grader Fatemah Alloo with her entry titled 'Red.'
'The level of artistic talent from all the winners of this year's Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students was exemplary! My father would be so proud this contest is finding and supporting young artists to further the genre of Automotive Fine Art.' - Leslie Neale, Bill Neale's Daughter/Terlingua Racing Team
The award was open to U.S. high school students in grades 9-12 with an exception made for Laatsch who attends school in Germany where his father, who serves in the United States Air Force, is currently stationed. The first place winner receives a $1,000 cash prize, the second place winner a $500 cash prize and the third place winner a $250 cash prize. For more on the award visit BillNealeAward.org.
Stay tuned for details about the 2025 Competition which launches in September at Mecum Dallas 2024!
Photo credit: Mecum
posted on conceptcarz.com
'I am unbelievably grateful to be the first high school student to receive this prestigious award. It truly is important to who I am. I will be attending the College For Creative Studies next year to continue my studies involving automotive art, and it was really special to have this competition that really aligned with my passion for cars and art. In my work I was really inspired by the raw emotion and speed of racing; the blur of the cars flying by at unbelievable speeds. I wanted to create a sensation more than just a canvas with paint on it. I would also like to thank everyone involved in this program as it was an amazing experience and it means so much to me.' - Matvey Pukalo, 1st Place Winner
posted on conceptcarz.com
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