About

Our Mission

The Virginia A. Groot Foundation promotes 3-dimensional art by giving award grants to sculptors, institutions and curators. We care deeply about the fostering of creative development in the sculptural space to encourage innovation and elevation of this unique art form, and are inspired by the pieces and narratives we have the opportunity to view and experience year after year. The awards allow for the development of new work, art residencies, visiting artist positions and curated presentations and publications.

3-dimensional art
Candice Groot With Dogs

Our Story

Candice B. Groot created the foundation with the belief that it had the potential to change artists’ lives. As an artist, educator, collector and visionary, Candice dedicated her life’s work to furthering the creative development of artists everywhere.
Legacy
Artist in Leadership

Artists in Leadership

Our foundation is created and managed by artists who understand and examine the life and energy captured in every sculptural art piece. We have carefully curated a leadership team that has the valuable insight and experience necessary to serve our artists and the public they reach.
Artist in Leadership - art

NinaLatusek

President

Bio

StanleyShetka

Vice President

Bio

PenelopeGroot West

Secretary/Co-Treasurer

Bio

CarlyWest Nichols

Co-Treasurer

Bio

Publications

The Virginia A. Groot Foundation has championed the sculptural and ceramic space for over 30 years. The dedication of contributing artists in our publication highlights artistic evolution and our foundation’s ever-growing legacy.
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Carly West Nichols

Bio Coming Soon

Stanley Shetka

Stanley Shetka is an inventor, professor, artist, and consultant. As the founder and CEO of Collateral Healing, Inc— a climate stabilization project, and inventor of Shetkastone®, his inventions have been featured in notable publications and magazines such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Over the past thirty years, Stanley has received more than $1 million in grants and has continually evolved the concept of creating wood, stone, and plastic replacement products made from recycled plant, paper, and cloth fibers.

As a consultant, he has designed products for several industries including furniture, building and construction, shipping and crating, point-of-purchase displays, and toys. Stanley is also a professor for the art department at Gustavus Adolphus College and has lectured at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, England, China, Japan, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.

Stanley’s artwork has been featured in a one-man exhibition Paper Futures at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and his accomplishments have been internationally recognized.

Nina Latusek

As the President of the Virginia A. Groot Foundation, Nina Latusek has years of experience specializing in foundation management. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts for Art History and Art Restoration from Sarah Lawrence College as well as her marketing certification from Northwestern University.

Nina is actively involved in the foundation by serving on the artists' grant jury panel and overseeing all general and specific operations related to the foundation. She has offered her proficiency in exhibition coordination by acting as the liaison between the foundation and artists for the Virginia A. Groot published catalog Visual Perspectives.

Professionally, her experiences include a focus on non-profit sectors of the Arts, higher education, and medical research.

Presently, Nina works in marketing, fundraising, and donor engagement at Beacon Place, a community family center in Waukegan, IL.

Penelope Groot West

Penelope Groot West, Secretary/co-Treasurer of the Virginia A. Groot Foundation, and board member since 2015, is a metalsmith and supporter of the arts. She received her B.A. degree in fine art from St. Olaf College and M.A. in printmaking from NIU, studying under David Driesbach.

Penny formerly served on the board of the Community Associates of the AIC, acting as liaison between the local high schools and the Associates, administering the student scholarship program. She has been a member of the AIC Antiquarian Society for over 20 years.

As a life trustee of Ragdale Foundation, she has long worked with and supported its artist residency program and mission. She is also a retired Governing Member of the CSO. In her spare time, she raised four creative children.

“My goal is to push forward the legacy of Candice B Groot, the founder of the Groot Foundation, encouraging sculptors to further develop their voice and work.”

Penelope lives in Lake Forest, Il and Holland, MI and Bluffton, SC.