Pictured: (Above) Ryan McClay, left, of MainStateVentures, presents John Lawson with the People’s Choice award for “Diligence; and (left) Gus Moran received the Grand Prize for his work “Leaves of Grass.”

The results of the MainStateVentures first Public Art Competition in Bridgeport are in: Gus Moran was awarded the Grand Prize for “Leaves of Grass” and John Lawson captured the People’s Choice award for “Diligence.”

The announcement was made recently at an awards presentation at City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport. Every two months, the competition featured a different piece of art by a Bridgeport artist culminating in a public exhibition of all six pieces, explained spokeswoman Caryn S. Kaufman.

The artwork had been installed outdoors on a building on Broad Street, across from the Burroughs-Saden Library.

Moran received a $1,000 cash award and Lawson was presented a $250 cash prize.

“Art is essential to a dynamic and vibrant downtown,” said Kim Morque of MainStateVentures, owners of commercial buildings in downtown Bridgeport. “Art breathes life into a city and brings its own unique expressions of creativity to all who experience it. It is important to MainStateVentures to sponsor a competition like this as a way to highlight the incredible talent in Bridgeport.”

In addition to Moran and Lawson, competition finalists included kHyal, Kelly Bigelow Becerra, Yolanda Vasquez Petrocelli, and Liz Squillace. The competition was open to all artists living or working in Bridgeport.

The Grand Prize winner was chosen by jury members Robert Curcio, co-founder of the Scope International Art Fairs and Gallerist, New York; MaryAnn Fahey, curator of Umbrella Arts, New York; Emily Larned, professor of graphic design at the University of Bridgeport; John Favret, director of the Housatonic Community College art department; and Ken Kahn, executive director of the Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council.