Lurlynn Franklin honored with the Emmett O’Ryan Award for Artistic Inspiration
MEMPHIS — ARTSmemphis is pleased to announce artist Lurlynn Franklin as the recipient of the prestigious Emmett O’Ryan Award for Artistic Inspiration, known as “The Emmett,” made possible by Renasant.
Given annually to an outstanding visual artist by Renasant in partnership with ARTSmemphis, the Emmett Award recognizes artistic excellence and honors an artist with a sustained commitment to developing their practice. The award, which now carries a $10,000 prize—the largest unrestricted cash award given to a visual artist in Shelby County—exemplifies the depth and quality of the art being created in Memphis and amplifies the work of visual artists in varied disciplines and diverse backgrounds. Founded in 2010, this award was named in memory of Emmett O’Ryan to honor his devotion to the arts. He was a founding Board Member of Metropolitan Bank, which merged with Renasant in 2017.
Emmett O’Ryan began his career as the owner of Ad South, a screen printing company. He won numerous awards for artistic excellence in this field and served on the board of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) for 20 years. He was a volunteer on the School Art Board for the Mid South Fair for 25 years, and he designed and donated posters for The Liberty Bowl and other local charities. His passion for art and life were evident in every aspect of his life. Emmett and his wife, Sara, were avid art collectors. Emmett was a musician, outdoor enthusiast, vintage car collector, and traveler, visiting art museums around the world. At the time of his death, Emmett was studying sculpture and pursuing an MFA at Memphis College of Art.
“Renasant is pleased to partner with ARTSmemphis each year and honor the memory of Emmett O’Ryan,” Shawn Clayton, Mid-South Regional President, Renasant. “We are honored to be part of the O’Ryan family’s legacy and shared commitment to the arts and greater work in our community.”
Lurlynn Franklin is an artist, writer, arts advocate, and an art educator born and currently residing in Memphis. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Minot State University and a Masters in Studio Painting and art education from Memphis College of Art. Since the age of 16, she has been a visual artist and muralist. Franklin has exhibited as a solo artist and in group shows locally, regionally and nationwide. Through her works she tells stories by merging her experiences and stories through societal commentary.
“Seeing community as power and the connectivity in everything is what has fueled my life and my career as an artist,” reflected Lurlynn Franklin. “ The uniting of the self with the whole is important to the structure of my work.”
Franklin teaches art history at the University of Memphis and is a member of the board of Arkwings Foundation where she founded the annual Frayser Local Arts Festival. She is the arts programming and gallery director and artist in residence at The Orange Mound Gallery in collaboration with the Orange Mound Neighborhood and Veterans Association. An arts educator, Franklin has worked at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, served as an elementary art teacher and has held residencies with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Delta State University, and University of Tennessee at Martin.
“As we work to grow the foundation of Memphis’ arts, we’re grateful for the commitment of Renasant, who has surpassed a decade of honoring individual artists like Lurlynn and contributing over $100,000 to date,” said Elizabeth Rouse, President and CEO of ARTSmemphis. “This investment demonstrates corporate leadership in recognizing and valuing the work of artists and their role in our community and economy.”
Franklin’s work is now on display at the Renasant Convention Center.
ABOUT ARTSMEMPHIS. ARTSmemphis, a 501(c)3, is the Mid-South’s primary arts funder, working behind the scenes to expand the foundation of Memphis’ arts through diligent and diverse support. The granting organization has distributed over $94 million since 1963 to local artists and arts organizations and further provides financial guidance, organizational advice, marketing support, and networking opportunities and connections. For more information, visit artsmemphis.org.
ABOUT RENASANT. Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank, a 119-year-old financial services institution. Renasant has assets of approximately $17.2 billion and operates 195 banking, lending, mortgage, wealth management and insurance offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.