Intersect Aspen Art + Design Artist Award Recipient 2025: Cristina Mittermeier

Each year Intersect Aspen honors outstanding artists whose creativity, commitment and impact extend beyond the studio. The award celebrates not only the artistic excellence but the meaningful ways in which these individuals enrich and inspire the communities around them. 

This year Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair is honored to present the Intersect Aspen Art and Design Artist Award to photographer Cristina Mittermeier. Mittermeier’s photography has taken her all over the globe and she works tirelessly to share her striking artwork - with a deep purpose and drive to raise awareness about our environment. Mittermeier (represented by Hilton Contemporary) is trained in both marine science and fine art photography. She coined the term conservation photography and has pioneered the use of visual storytelling as a force for ecological and cultural preservation.

Intersect Aspen is proud to honor Mittermeier with this distinction, as she represents a continued focus on the Intersection of Art and The Environment — a key on-going pillar of the fair’s programming.  

“It is an honor to recognize the multi dimensional and deep contributions Cristina Mittermeier has made to the world through her fascinating life journey and revealing the integrity of her core beliefs through her beautiful and thought-provoking work,” says Tim von Gal, CEO, Intersect Art and Design. “Her work is viscerally evocative in expressing full stories in a single image. Without intention, Cristina has added the category of fine art to her repertoire of extraordinary documentary photography. She has articulated and elicited a multitude of emotions — frame by frame. We are incredibly grateful to her for being a part of this edition of Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair.”

Exhibiting Artist Announcement 2025:

Aspen’s 212GALLERY will make its debut at Intersect Aspen 2025, presenting a focused exhibition of work by Shepard Fairey—one of the world’s most influential and provocative contemporary artists. With a career spanning nearly 35 years, Fairey’s work bridges fine art, street culture, and social discourse. He is perhaps best known for his iconic HOPE portrait, now part of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery collection. To date, Fairey has completed more than 135 large-scale public murals worldwide, redefining the role of street art and its impact on civic identity and global discourse. Fairey is currently completing a new Aspen public mural that will be unveiled July 25 in downtown Aspen, under the exhibition title “One Earth”; which will be a key theme of 212GALLERY’s exhibition space at Intersect Aspen. 

Jackson Fine Art will be pr in esenting the work of Michael Stipe, the multifaceted artist, producer, and singer/songwriter for the first time at Intersect Aspen. Best known as the frontman of the legendary band R.E.M., Stipe’s creative legacy extends far beyond music. Over the past four decades, he has built a compelling multidisciplinary art practice that spans video, soundscapes, sculpture, and photographic and digital imagery. His work continues to push boundaries and explore the interplay between identity, memory, and media, marking an exciting addition to the fair’s 2025 edition. Jackson Fine Art will feature Stipe’s photography and sculpture at Intersect Aspen 2025. In addition to Stipe, Jackson Fine Art will also debut the work of Cig Harvey at the fair. Harvey is a British born artist and writer, who lives in Maine, USA, working in large-scale color photography and creative non-fiction. 

Attending in-person: Must see artists and special guests

A distinguished list of internationally acclaimed artists, galleries and visionary curators will engage and contribute to making this year’s program impactful to the art community. Luminary artists in attendance and speakers to include: 

In addition to having the honor of Mittermeier making her Intersect Aspen debut, Donna Isham will exhibit with Varvara Roza Gallery, bringing her interdisciplinary approach to Intersect Aspen. A recent Artist-in-Residence at Anderson Ranch Arts Center with strong ties to Colorado’s art community, Isham will present Carousel (2023), a collaborative mixed media work co-created with her husband, composer Mark Isham. The large-scale piece combines vibrant acrylic, ink, and graphite with an original soundscape, offering an immersive, multi-sensory experience that reflects her evolving fusion of visual art and sound. 

Artist Jil Weinstock will be at Intersect Aspen (represented by Winston Wächter Fine Art) as well as Gino Miles (Saddle Road Contemporary), well known for his large-scale sculptures. Topher Straus (bG Gallery), a Fourth generation Coloradoan and Contemporary Digital Artist, will return to Intersect Aspen once again this summer. David Drebin (Hilton Contemporary) will make his Intersect Aspen debut. Yiwei Gallery will have two artists in attendance: Kay Seohyung Lee and Charles Christopher Hill.

2025 Program Highlights: 

(Please visit https://www.intersectaspen.com/2025-events-schedule to view all events, including booth talks with visiting Intersect Aspen artists and panels and events mentioned below).

Tuesday, July 29 / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair Opening Reception and First Look

1 - 3 p.m. – VIP First Look Reception at Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair

Open to VIP/All-Access pass holders, the First Look Reception will unveil work from nearly 40 of the world’s top contemporary art and design galleries and mark the opening of Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair for 2025. The reception will include an opportunity to gather with Intersect Aspen artists and galleries featuring light bites.

3 - 3:15 p.m. - Opening Remarks from Tim von Gal, CEO, Intersect Art and Design and Award Ceremony with Cristina Mittermeier

3 - 6 p.m.  – General Admission First Look Reception at Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair

Intersect Aspen invites all attendees at this time for a first look and continued reception celebrating the artists and galleries of Intersect Aspen 2025.

Music by DJ Mayfly (3:15 - 5:15 p.m.)

4 p.m.- Booth Talk with artist Kay Seohyung Lee at Yiwei Gallery

6 p.m. –  Close of fair for the day

Wednesday, July 30 /  / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair schedule highlights: 

11 a.m. – Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair open to all pass holders 

1:30 p.m. - Booth Talk with Mark and Donna Isham at Varvara Roza Gallery 

Join Varvara Roza Gallery in Booth A11 for a conversation with artist Donna Isham and her husband, award-winning musician and composer Mark Isham. The two will discuss how they influence and inspire each other’s creative practices across visual art and music. 

2 p.m. - Booth Talk with J. Ruel Martin at J. Ruel Martin Gallery of Wood Sculptures 

2:30 p.m. - Booth Talk with Jil Weinstock at Winston Wächter Fine Art

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.  - The American West: Freedom, Framing, and the Role of Art, Featuring Maryam Eisler in conversation with Carrie Scott and Heidi Zuckerman

The American West has long held mythic status — a landscape associated with possibility, openness, and above all, freedom. But how do we see it now? This panel explores the West as both geography and mindset — a place where artists have long come to reclaim space, express identity, and test the limits of form and self.

Heidi Zuckerman speaks to the West as an idea — a site of experimentation, creativity, and  constant reinvention. Maryam Eisler, drawing on her newly released book West West, reflects on the deeply personal nature of perspective. Created in collaboration with photographer Alexei Riboud,  the project captures the same landscapes through two distinct eyes — revealing how vision is never neutral, and freedom begins with the right to see differently. Carrie Scott offers a historical lens, tracing how the West has been framed by photographers navigating the balance between  individual and collective vision. Together, they’ll explore how art continues to shape — and reshape — the story of the West.

6 p.m. –  Close of fair for the day

Thursday, July 31 / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair schedule highlights:

11 a.m. –  Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair open to all pass holders 

1:30 p.m. - Booth Talk with Kinga Czerska at ALEX Contemporary 

2 p.m. - Booth Talk with Yigal Ozeri at Corridor Contemporary

3:30 p.m. - The Intersection of Art and the Environment with Cristina Mittermeier; Moderated by Ann Mullins

Join internationally acclaimed conservation photographer, fine artist, and co-founder of SeaLegacy, Cristina Mittermeier (represented by Hilton Contemporary), for an illuminating conversation on the role of art in advancing environmental consciousness. Trained in both marine science and fine art photography, Mittermeier coined the term conservation photography and has pioneered the use of visual storytelling as a force for ecological and cultural preservation.

Her iconic images—featured in National Geographic, TIME, and The New York Times—have shaped public dialogue on ocean protection and Indigenous rights. Mittermeier brings a deeply interdisciplinary perspective to this conversation, shaped by decades of work at the nexus of science, advocacy, and aesthetics.

Set against the backdrop of Intersect Aspen, this timely dialogue will explore how contemporary artists are responding to climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability—and how collectors, curators, and cultural institutions can amplify this impact. With her distinctive blend of scientific insight and visual poetry, Mittermeier will reflect on the evolving role of the artist as both witness and changemaker in a rapidly shifting world.

Moderated by Ann Mullins, an award-winning landscape architect based in Aspen, who has been recognized for her work in planning and developing policies that impact landscapes as well as local communities. Mullins is also a former Aspen City Council member, serving the City of Aspen for eight years in this role.

Cristina Mittermeier is represented by Hilton Contemporary.

This discussion is part of the Intersect Educational Series at Intersect Aspen Art + Design 2025.

4:30 pm: “HOPE” Book Signing with  Cristina Mittermeier

5-6 p.m. - The Intersection of Art and the Aspen Community - Big Mountains, Bold Thinking: Inspired by the Infinite

There’s something about being in the mountains and Aspen specifically, that seems to unlock a higher creative spirit. Between the artists, non-profits, businesses and the galleries of Aspen - there seems to be more room for the creativity community to thrive and think bigger than ever before. Our panel will dive into some of the Roaring Fork Valley’s boldest creative initiatives featuring Donna Isham (represented by Varvara Rosa Gallery and former Anderson Ranch artist-in-residence); Fourth-Generation Coloradoan and digital artist, Topher Straus (represented by bG Gallery); and more visionary panelist who will contribute to this Aspen Educational Series discussion.  

6 p.m. –  Close of fair for the day

August 1, 2025 / / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair schedule highlights:

11 a.m. –  Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair open to all pass holders 

1:30 p.m. - Booth Talk with Topher Straus at Topher Straus - a solo exhibition presented by bG Gallery 

2 p.m. - Booth Talk with Charles Christopher Hill at Yiwei Gallery

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. - The Intersection of Identity and Creativity: Through the Eyes of Photographer David Drebin

Join featured artist David Drebin (Hilton Contemporary) for an engaging conversation exploring how identity shapes creativity. Known for his striking photography and diamond dust works, Drebin offers insight into the emotional drive behind his art.

Together, we’ll unpack key questions: Is all art born from the need to express our deepest emotions? Is creating art a need, a desire—or both? And how can art serve as a tool for healing, connection, and transformation?

This panel invites you into the heart of Drebin’s creative spirit—and the broader role of art in shaping how we see ourselves and the world around us.

6 p.m. –  Close of fair for the day

August 2, 2025  / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair schedule highlights:

11 a.m. –  Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair open to all pass holders 

1:30 p.m. - Booth Talk with Larissa Wild at Larissa Wild Fine Art 

2 p.m. - Booth Talk with Gino Miles at Saddle Road Contemporary 

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Art as Catalyst: Creativity as a Force for Change with Cristina Mittermeier and a very special guest, to be announced soon

Join renowned artists Paula Crown and Cristina Mittermeier for a powerful conversation exploring how art intersects with activism, community, and global awareness. In this thought-provoking panel, they will share personal stories and insights on how their creative practices have sparked dialogue and inspired action—from environmental advocacy to reshaping social narratives. Discover how art can be a transformative force for meaningful change in today’s world.

Paula Crown is an internationally renowned artist with a practice encompassing drawing, painting, video, and sculpture. Crown rigorously incorporates cutting-edge technology, social activism, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability in her studio practice. In addition to her role as an artist, Crown has played a pivotal role in shaping Aspen’s art evolution. 

Cristina Mittermeier’s photography is rooted in beauty and purpose. Her work not only captures the fragile wonder of our planet, it galvanizes action—shaping global conversations, influencing policy, and driving real-world change. In this Intersect Aspen Educational Series, we’ll delve into how her images do more than inform—they inspire both transformation and awe. 

3:30 - 4:40 p.m. - Join Intersect Aspen for its 15-year celebration and Crescendo Party featuring a Wine Tasting with Sommeliers from The Little Nell 

Intersect Aspen is proud to celebrate its 15th year in Aspen inviting the community to gather, experience art from nearly 40 galleries and taste wine with knowledgeable sommeliers from The Little Nell and their hand selected pours to pair perfectly with this global, summer gathering of the local community and visiting art aficionados.

This event is open to all VIP passholders but requires an RSVP as space is limited. 

3:30 - 6  p.m. Crescendo Party celebrating Intersect Aspen Art + Design’s fifteenth year in Aspen. 

6 p.m. –  Close of fair for the day

August 3, 2025 /  / Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair schedule and Closing Day of the Fair:

Extended sixth day of Intersect Aspen hours: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Partnerships: 

Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair announces a list of updated and new cultural partnerships, including the newest partner and beneficiary, Aspen Community Foundation. Since 1980, Aspen Community Foundation (ACF) has been investing in a future where everyone from Aspen to Parachute has equitable opportunities to thrive. To ensure this potential is accessible to all, ACF actively listens and learns about the region’s challenges, connects nonprofit and community leaders advancing solutions, and partners with donors and funders to catalyze community-led change.

Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair is honored to be a sponsor of Aspen Community Foundation’s summer benefit on July 26 and the fair’s support of ACF will continue throughout the fair with all cash bar sales during the entire fair benefiting ACF.

Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair is pleased to announce Anderson Ranch Arts Center will continue its longstanding cultural partnership with Intersect Aspen Art and Design Fair. As part of this collaboration, Anderson Ranch will proudly present an exclusive selection of works from their renowned printshop studio. 

Founded in 1966, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a premier destination for art making and critical dialogue, bringing together aspiring and internationally renowned artists to discuss and further their work in a stimulating environment. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado, the Ranch hosts an extensive array of workshops for aspiring, emerging, established artists, children and teens in seven disciplines, including Photography & New Media, Ceramics, Painting & Drawing, Furniture Design & Woodworking, Sculpture, Printmaking and Digital Fabrication. In addition, the Ranch hosts engaging community events throughout the year which feature local, national and international artists; and a year-round Artists-in-Residence Program, fostering artistic growth for emerging and established visual artists.

Cultural Partners:  

Anderson Ranch
Aspen Art Museum 
Aspen Chamber Resort Association
Aspen Community Foundation
Jazz Aspen Snowmass 
Perfect Earth Project 
Powers Art Center
Red Brick Center for the Arts
TACAW

Media Partners: 

Après for The Little Nell 
Art & Object 
Aspen Daily News 
Aspen Sojourner
Auberge - Journey Beyond 
CULTURED
Modern Luxury - ASPEN Magazine
Modern Luxury - PEAK
The Aspen Times

Fair dates and hours: 

July 29, 1 - 6 p.m. (VIP Preview and Reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. and General Admission opens at 3 p.m.). 
July 30, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
July 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
August 1, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
August 2, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Crescendo Party 3:30 - 6 p.m.)
August 3, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair Location:

Aspen Ice Garden 
233 W Hyman Ave
Aspen, Colorado 81611 
www.IntersectAspen.com

Tickets for Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair 2025:

All Access passes, Multi-Day passes and Individual Day passes are now on sale and can be purchased at the following link: here.

Media contact: 
Meredith McKee 
meredithbrettco@gmail.com
303-641-3674

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About Intersect Art + Design:
Intersect Art + Design produces cultural events that connect galleries with art lovers and collectors, highlighting art and design locally, regionally, and globally. Presented by Tim von Gal (CEO) and Dirk von Gal (President & COO), the Intersect team is committed to building community and connectivity in the locations of the fairs. Through cultural partners, programming, and curatorial vision, Intersect offers year-round opportunities for dialogue, engagement, and inspiration. 

Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair is an annual art and culture event taking place each August in the heart of one of the nation’s most prestigious collector communities. Formerly known as Art Aspen, it has been running since 2010. 

Intersect Palm Springs Art + Design Fair takes place each February and presents modern and contemporary art and design. Formerly known as Art Palm Springs, it has been running since 2012.

Visit the website at IntersectFairs.com and follow along on social media @IntersectArtandDesign. 

About Tim and Dirk von Gal, owners of Intersect Aspen Art + Design:
In 2021, Tim and Dirk von Gal relaunched Aspen’s annual art fair, Art Aspen, as Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair. The brothers, who reside in Georgia, both have an affinity for Aspen. Dirk worked as an Aspen ski instructor in the 1990s and Tim has been a long-time visitor to Aspen. When they were presented with the opportunity to relaunch the summer art event, they were honored to take on the project and have since given the fair new life and energy while expanding its programming.