Hector Acuna is an educator and professional artist focusing on observational painting through a studio and plein air practice. He holds a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2015) and an MFA from Michigan State University (2020). Hector’s paintings have received national recognition with 30 awards from 22 juried and invitational plein air events since 2021. His work is held in public and private collections and has been exhibited in numerous small and group exhibitions. Hector was named One of Three Artists to Watch in 2022, awarded the inaugural M. Stephen Doherty Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award from Plein Air Magazine in 2023, and was one of 75 invited faculty artists at the 2024 Plein Air Convention & Expo in Cherokee, NC. Hector’s unique approach and expertise has made him a sought after juror for exhibitions and a well respected instructor during his university art classes, workshops, and 1 on 1 mentorship. He holds a deep appreciation for the history, materials, and craft of painting. His process begins and ends with handmade supports and frames constructed in his wood shop. Hector's work is represented at Kim Storage Gallery in Milwaukee,WI, Pink Llama Gallery in Cedarburg, WI, and Burnt Sienna Gallery in Galena, IL. Hector lives in Grafton, WI with his wife Megan and their dog Lenny.

Awards and Fellowships

2024 Best of Show, Paint Port 360, Mercantile Plaza, Port Washington, WI, Judge Bob Fesser

Second Place, Paint the Towns En Plein Air, Plymouth, WI, Judge Michelle Richeson

First Place "Historic Dubuque", Bluff Strokes Paint Out, Dubuque, IA Judge Debra Joy Groesser

Merit Award (Second Place), Main Event, Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival, Judge Kathleen Hudson

Best of Show, Small Wonders Category, Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Festival, Judge Steven Stannard

First Place, Lighthouse Plein Air Festival, Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, FL, Judge Michele Usibelli

2023 M. Stephen Doherty Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Plein Air Magazine, Presented at PACE23

Second Place, Plein Air Texas, San Angelo, TX, Judge Michael Grauer

Best New Artist, Bath County Plein Air Festival, Warm Springs Gallery, Judge Randy Sexton

Honorable Mention, Door County Plein Air Festival, Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek, WI, Judge Lori Putnam

First Place, Main Event Category, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, Judges Marc Anderson, Christopher Reno, Richard Moninski

First Place, Nocturne Category, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, Judges same as main event

Second Place, Postcard Category, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, Judges same as main event

Honorable Mention, Quick Paint Category, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, Judges same as main event

2022 Best of Show, Door County Plein Air Festival, Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek WI, Judge Don Demers

First Place "Outside of the Box", Bluff Strokes Paint Out, Dubuque, IA Judge Lorin Willey

Best Render the Vendor Award, Walworth County Fair Plein Air Event, Elkhorn, WI

First Place, Quick Paint, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, WI

First Place, Postcard Event, Paint the Point, Mineral Point, WI

Grand Champion, WI State Fair Quick Paint, Plein Air Festival State Fair, West Allis, WI

2nd Place, Main Event Jefferson Plein Air Festival, Judges Lori Beringer, Bethann Moran-Handzlik

First Place, Quick Paint Jefferson Plein Air Festival, Jefferson, WI, Judges same as main event

Best of Show Cedarburg Art Museum Purchase Award, Paint Cedarburg Plein Air Event, Judges Tom Kubala, Andy Fletcher, James Hempel

2021 Sunshine Award, Paint the Towns En Plein Air, Plymouth, WI, Judge James P. Neilson

First Place, Paint the Town Barrington Plein Air Festival, Barrington, IL, Judge Nancie King Mertz

Award of Excellence, Between the Bluffs Plein Air Festival, La Crosse, WI, Judge Ben Bauer

Third Place, Between the Bluffs Plein Air Quick Paint, La Crosse, WI, Judge Jon Erickson

Grand Champion, WI State Fair Plein Air Festival, West Allis, WI

Grand Champion, WI State Fair Quick Paint, Plein Air Festival State Fair, West Allis, WI

Best of Show, Port Wing Plein Air Festival, Port Wing, WI

Honorable Mention, Paint Cedarburg, Cedarburg, WI, Judge Lori Beringer, Antwan Ramar, Paul Bergquist

2020 2nd Place, Best Use of Medium, November Self Portrait Challenge, New Masters Academy

2019 Dissertation Completion Fellowship, College of Arts and Letters, MSU

Research/Professional Development Fellowship, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, MSU

2018 Summer Support Fellowship, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, MSU

2nd Place, Teenage Merit, Michigan Collegiate Art Exhibition, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI

Research/Professional Development Fellowship, Department of Art, Art History, and Design, MSU

2016 Excellence Award, Marshfield Art Fair, New Visions Gallery

2015 2D BFA Arts Bash Scholarship, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Hipstamatic Entrepreneurship Award, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

First Place, Portrait of the Poet: Emmitt James, Gamblin Torrit Grey Competition

2014 Best of Show, Self Portrait, UWSP Student Juried Show

James R. Hill Award, Model With Hoop, UWSP Student Juried Show

Chancellor’s Citation for Artistic Achievement, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Juror's Choice, The Passing of Greed, Visions XVI Juried Art Show

Honorable Mention, Restoration 1A, Visions XVI Juried Art Show

Best of Show, The Passing of Greed, CGSAC Student Juried Show at UWSP

COFAC Dedication Scholarship, UWSP