Topical Cream is a New York-based arts organization supporting the work of women and gender non-conforming contemporary artists.

Topical Cream Celebrates Carolyn Lazard and Zenat Begum

Published December 16th, 2021

On Thursday, December 9th, Topical Cream celebrated the two winners of the 2021 Topical Cream Prize at Chapel Bar, with drinks provide by Ume Plum Liqueur. In the artist category, the recipient was Carolyn Lazard, whose work is focused on the relationship between care, labor, and value. The activist prize went to Zenat Begum, founder of Playground Coffee Shop in Brooklyn, NY. Those present at the celebration included

2021 Activist Prize winner Zenat Begum
Left: Harrison Tenzer and friend.
Right: Theresa Chromati and Lyndsy Welgos
World-famous photographer Ellen von Unwerth attends Topical Cream’s prize celebration.
2021 Activist Prize winner Zenat Begum celebrates.
DJ Whitney Frank with Colin Cardinal.
Left: DJ Thug Pop.
Right: Artist and founder of Club Glam DeSe Escobar
Attendees of Topical Cream’s 2021 Prize Ceremony.

The Topical Cream Prize is an unrestricted cash prize awarded annually to one artist and one activist whose efforts have made a meaningful impact on their community. Winners in both categories were chosen by an advisory board of leaders from the Topical Cream community that included: Lyndsy Welgos (Topical Cream Director, Prize Co-Chair), Marcella Zimmermann (VP of Cultural Counsel, Topical Cream Board, and Prize Co-Chair), Elizabeth Baribeau (Topical Cream Grants Director), Alexandra Cunningham Cameron (Cooper Hewitt Museum), Cynthia Leung (Native Agents), Rosie Motley (Someday Gallery, Topical Cream Arts Writing Mentor), Sam Pulitzer (Artist), Anna Raginskaya (Blue Rider Group, Morgan Stanley), Yulu Serao (Topical Cream Board), Seth Stolbun (Stolbun Foundation), Rachel Tashjian (GQ), Harrison Tenzer (Artist), and Elizabeth Wiet (Topical Cream Editorial & Programming Associate).