International Encaustic Artists (IEA) hosted the fifth La Vendéenne [la vahn day en] Awards program for artists working with encaustic (pigmented wax). The awards are named in honor of a fourth century female encaustic artist, Laia, whose buried remains were found, along with the tools of her encaustic art, in the La Vendée region of France. The La Vendéenne Awards were established in 2011 to recognize artists or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement and practice of encaustic art.

Finalists for the La Vendéenne Outstanding Contribution Award can be an individual or a group of artists, an organization, or a company who has excelled at one (or more) of the following:

• Achieved distinction in their artistic career
• Been innovative in their use of encaustic
• Made outstanding contributions in education and/or raised the level of excellence in encaustic fine art through teaching
• Published digital or print material significant to the advancement of encaustic art
• Developed technical innovation(s) that has helped advance encaustic art

finalists & recipients