By Sara Beth Williams–
Local artist Susan Ballenger has earned a Juror Award in the Contemporary category of the PBS KVIE Art Auction for her piece “Underwater Rocks.” Her work will be among more than 270 original pieces of art featured in the 44th annual Art Auction event, which celebrates Northern California’s creative talent.
The three-day auction fundraising event will be broadcast live on KVIE Channel 6 and livestreamed online from Oct. 3–5, offering viewers the chance to bid on artwork which will help support PBS KVIE’s local productions and outreach programs.
Ballenger’s piece, which can be seen here, depicts rocks of varying hues at the bottom of a body of water. Ballenger also won an award in the same contest in 2021, for her piece, “Reach for the Heights,” which won in the landscape category of PBS KVIE’s 40th annual art auction.
Related: Citrus Heights artist wins award for neighborhood-inspired painting – Citrus Heights Sentinel
Viewers can watch the Art Auction on Friday, Oct. 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4: from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bids may be placed in person or online, though all final bidding will occur by telephone during the live televised event.
In an Aug. 28 press release, PBS KVIE Art Curator Jill Estroff highlighted the significance of this year’s auction, noting that many of the featured works reflect “the hope and optimism of our region’s artists” despite challenges to arts funding.
Beginning on Sept. 2, viewers can preview the curated collection both online, and in person, at the PBS KVIE station in Sacramento. The exhibit will be open to the public through Oct. 1, with gallery hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A full list of participating artists and award winners is available on the PBS KVIE Art Auction website, with images and details for each piece posted.
The 2025 auction is sponsored by Bank of Marin, Murphy Austin, Delta Print Group, and Krogh & Decker LLP.
Since its founding in 1959, PBS KVIE has served 28 counties across Northern California, reaching 1.5 million households with programming that spans news, history, science, arts, and culture. Proceeds from the auction will help sustain the station’s mission and fund locally produced shows such as “America’s Heartland,” “Rob on the Road,” “Studio Sacramento,” and “KVIE Arts Showcase.”
