March 11, 2026 – West Bend, Wi – Marissa Mastenbrook of West Bend, WI, has received a State Award for her artwork Perennial Love at the Watertown Regional Wisconsin Regional Art Program–Teen (WRAP-Teen) exhibit held Wednesday, March 4, at Watertown High School.
The Watertown Regional WRAP-Teen exhibit, sponsored by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA), provides young artists ages 13–19 the opportunity to exhibit their work in juried regional exhibitions across Wisconsin.
Students who receive State Awards at the regional level advance to the juried WRAP-Teen State Conference exhibit, where additional recognition and cash awards are presented and selected artwork is published in the AWA Annual Color Catalog.
This year’s regional exhibit was coordinated by Dave Pawl of the Watertown High School Art Department. Artwork was juried by Jess Lensmire (NSP: Fine Arts ’25), a graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and a Watertown High School alumna.
Mastenbrook’s award is particularly notable as this is her third consecutive year receiving a State Award at the Watertown Regional WRAP-Teen exhibit.
“Marissa’s work shows such maturity, depth, and technical skill that each year I think she must be a senior,” said Pawl. “It’s a remarkable achievement to be selected for state three times and only be a junior.”
Mastenbrook, a Junior at West Bend High Schools, was mentored by Danna Gabriel of the Association of Wisconsin Artists.
The WRAP-Teen program encourages young artists to develop their creativity, gain recognition for their work, and connect with mentors who help inspire them to pursue art as a lifelong passion.
Special thanks to Dave Pawl for hosting the Watertown Regional WRAP-Teen exhibit and serving as regional coordinator and to the Association of Wisconsin Artists.
