Art Competitions for Minneapolis Artists

Whether you’re just starting to show your work or you’re a seasoned professional, having high-quality photographs of your artwork can make all the difference when entering juried exhibitions. Great photos help your submission stand out, show your work at its best, and can improve your competitive edge.

When you’re ready to enter a competition, let me know which one you need images for, and I’ll provide files that fit the specifications exactly—resolution, color space, file format, dimensions—whatever the competition requires. You focus on creating great art; I’ll make sure it looks its best in the submission.

Many of the artists I’ve worked with have gone on to win major national and international awards. Here are just a few of them:

• James Vose
• Steven J Levin
• Mary Pettis
• Joe Paquet
• Andrew Sjodin
• Patty Voje
• Carl Bretzke

Below, you’ll find a curated list of juried art competitions. These events offer opportunities for visibility, recognition, and sales—whether you’re submitting a painting or mixed media piece.

If you know of a local or national competition I should add, feel free to send it my way. I enjoy helping my artists make the most of every opportunity.

🎯 Pro Tips for Entering Art Competitions

Submitting your work to juried exhibitions can be exciting and a little intimidating. Here are a few tips to help you stand out and avoid common pitfalls:

1. Follow the rules exactly. Each competition has specific requirements for file size, resolution, medium, dimensions, framing, and labeling. Submitting the wrong format or incomplete information can disqualify even excellent work..
2. Invest in professional photography. 
Your image is your first impression. Blurry, unevenly lit, or distorted photos won’t do your work justice. I specialize in photographing artwork for competition entries and can help you ensure it looks its absolute best.
3. Choose your best, most cohesive work. 
Select pieces that represent your style and skill level. If submitting multiple works, try to choose ones that feel like they belong together, even across different subjects or media.
4. Don’t wait until the deadline.
 Give yourself time to prepare your files, fill out the application, and resolve any last-minute issues. Many competitions get a rush of submissions near the deadline, and slow servers or technical issues can be stressful.
5. Keep a record. 
Track where and when you’ve submitted each piece, what images you used, and the results. This helps with planning and improves your chances over time.
6. Think beyond winning.
 Even if your piece isn’t accepted, juried shows can still be valuable exposure, and the act of preparing and submitting helps sharpen your skills. Rejection is part of the process for even the most seasoned artists.

🏆 National Art Competitions for Painters – 2026-2027

Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon – 19th International Competition

Next Competition Opening: Expected Spring 2026
Location: Online and international exhibitions

The 18th ARC Salon just wrapped up in early January 2026, with winners announced January 5th. The 19th International ARC Salon will likely open for entries in spring 2026 (typically March through June, based on past years). This is the largest competition dedicated to 21st Century Realism, offering over $130,000 in cash awards and opportunities for international recognition through partnerships with prestigious magazines, galleries, and museums. Recent winners’ work has been exhibited at Sotheby’s New York and the Tate Britain in London.

Categories include Figurative, Portraiture, Imaginative Realism, Drawing, Landscape, Still Life, Plein Air Painting, Fully From Life, Sculpture, and Animals. There’s even a special category for teen artists.

Entry fees start around $28 (includes a copy of the ARC Salon book). Let me know you are submitting and I can provide an image that fits their specifications exactly!

Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon website

PleinAir Salon Art Competition – 15th Annual

Dates: Monthly competitions running through March 2026, with the annual award in May 2026
Location: Online and Plein Air Convention & Expo

Despite the name, this competition is open to ALL types of paintings, not just plein air works. Monthly awards lead to an annual grand prize of $15,000 and a feature on the cover of PleinAir Magazine. Over $50,000 in total prizes awarded annually.

Monthly entry deadlines occur at the end of each month. Early bird pricing (1st-15th of month): $29 first entry, $12 additional. Regular pricing (16th-month end): $40 first entry, $16 additional. The 15th Annual Competition runs April 2025 through March 2026, with the Grand Prize announced at the Plein Air Convention in May 2026.

PleinAir Salon Art Competition website

Oil Painters of America (OPA) 35th National Exhibition

Submission Deadline: March 6, 2026
Exhibition: May 29 – August 29, 2026
Location: Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

OPA’s National Exhibition showcases the best in representational oil painting, featuring approximately $100,000 in total awards, including a $25,000 Best in Show. Open to OPA members (annual membership $80). Entries accepted November 1, 2025 through March 6, 2026.

OPA also hosts a Student Art Competition (ages 14-23) with submissions due April 1, 2026, and winners invited to exhibit at the National Exhibition.

Oil Painters of America National Exhibition website

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition – 42nd Annual

Deadline: July 2026 (typically early-to-mid July)
Location: Online

The 42nd Annual Competition will open in early 2026 (the 41st is currently accepting entries with a July 2025 deadline). This competition celebrates outstanding works in various art media, offering $17,500 in cash prizes across five categories: Landscape/Cityscape, Animal & Wildlife, Still Life & Interior, Portrait & Figure, and Abstract & Experimental.

All winners and honorable mentions are featured in Artists Magazine (typically Jan/Feb issue of the following year). Entry fees around $30 for first entry.

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition website

National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) Exhibitions

Spring International Online Exhibition
Application Deadline: April 6, 2026
Exhibition: May 2026 (online)

Open to all artists 18+ working in oil and acrylic. 200 artworks accepted with cash awards totaling around $4,500. No membership required for online exhibitions.

Best of America – 35th National Exhibition
Application Deadline: Check NOAPS website (typically late winter/early spring)
Exhibition: Fall 2026 (gallery location TBD)

NOAPS members only. Over $30,000 in cash and sponsor awards. Maximum size 1200 square inches (excluding frame). Annual membership $62.

Best of America Small Works – 9th Annual
Application Deadline: Check NOAPS website (typically winter/spring)
Exhibition: Spring/Summer 2026

Maximum size 320 square inches. Awards include Best of Show $3,000, with $30,000 total in cash and sponsor awards.

NOAPS website

New Salem Museum & Academy (NSMA) International Painting Competition

Deadline: February 15, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Exhibition: May 13 – August 16, 2026
Location: New Salem, Pennsylvania

Focused on contemporary realism in all painting mediums (oil, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, tempera, etc.). Open to international artists. $35,000 Acquisition Award (winner’s painting joins permanent collection), plus Director’s Choice Award of $2,500 in art supplies.

Entry fee: $50 for first entry (multi-entry discounts available). All subject matter welcome. Paintings must have been created within the past five years.

NSMA Competition website

Minted Design Challenges

Dates: Rolling competitions throughout the year
Location: Online (minted.com)

This is a unique opportunity—less traditional competition, more commercial marketplace. Minted runs art challenges where community voting and expert curation determine winners. Winners receive a $200 cash prize plus their designs are sold as fine art prints, stationery, and home goods. Artists earn 6-10% royalty on all sales.

Challenges typically focus on art prints, with themes announced throughout the year. You can submit up to 30 pieces per challenge. Original artwork must be between 18×24″ and 44×44″ minimum to allow for large-format printing.

This is great for artists looking for passive income and exposure to a broad consumer audience. The platform handles all production, shipping, and customer service.

Minted Design Challenges website

Artists Network Additional Competitions

AcrylicWorks: Best of Acrylic
Deadline: March 5, 2026

Artists to Watch (Ages 16+)
Deadline: April 16, 2026

Artists Network Competitions website

🎨 The Great Minnesota Painting Competition

Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition

Registration Opens: May 5, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 14, 2026 (4:30 PM)
Jurying: July 15-20, 2026 (digital review)
Artists Notified: July 21-22, 2026
Artwork Delivery: August 2-3, 2026
Exhibition: August 27 – September 7, 2026
Location: Fine Arts Center, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights, MN

Minnesota’s largest juried art exhibition showcases over 300 pieces selected from thousands of submissions by artists across the state. Open exclusively to Minnesota residents, the competition features eight classes: Painting/Mixed Media, Sculpture, Watercolor/Gouache/Casein/Tempera, Drawings/Pastel, Printmaking, Ceramics/Glass, Textiles/Fiber, and Photography. Each artist may submit one piece for consideration.

The exhibition is displayed in the historic Fine Arts Center during the 12-day fair. Works accepted into the exhibition may be listed for sale through the Minnesota State Fair Foundation at a 20% commission.

Let me know you are submitting and I can provide an image that fits their specifications exactly!

Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition website

🧭 Know of a Competition I Should Add?

I’m always looking to expand this list with more opportunities, especially local or regional competitions that might not get as much promotion.

If you know of a juried show, plein air event, or art competition (big or small) that other artists should hear about, feel free to email me the details. I’d love to include it.

Let’s help each other find the good stuff.

🎨 Midwest Plein Air Painting Competitions – 2026

Plein Air Grand Marais

Registration Opens: February 1, 2026
Main Competition Week: September 11-19, 2026
Public Reception & Awards: September 19, 2026 (5:00-7:00 PM)
Location: Grand Marais, MN

An annual tradition since 2008, this event brings outdoor painters to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week of painting, learning, competition, and camaraderie. Over $7,000 in awards. Two classes: Competition Class (invitational and experienced painters) and Open Class (all skill levels welcome). Features daily paint-outs, workshops with professional artists, a Quick Paint competition, and artist socials throughout the week.

Organized by Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and hosted by the Cook County Historical Society’s Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.

Plein Air Grand Marais website

Door County Plein Air Festival

Dates: July 19–25, 2026
Registration opens: January 29th, 2026
Location: Fish Creek, WI

The Midwest’s premier outdoor painting event, featuring 30–36 invited artists from across the U.S., with an online exhibition and sale following the festival.

Door County Plein Air Festival website

Prairie Lakes Plein Air

Dates: Summer 2026
Location: Otter Tail County, MN

A festival of art education, exhibition, and competition open to artists of all skill levels, set in the idyllic lakes country of West-Central Minnesota.

Prairie Lakes Plein Air website

Plein Air at the Fair – Wisconsin State Fair

Dates: August 10–11, 2026
Entry Deadline: July 8, 2026 – 7 pm
Location: West Allis, WI

Open to all artists, this competition challenges participants to create artwork onsite at the Wisconsin State Fair, with finished works available for purchase by the public.

Plein Air at the Fair website

Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show

Dates: April 25–May 9, 2026
Applications due: April 19, 2026
Location: Schaumburg, IL

Artists are invited to create original plein air paintings or drawings within Schaumburg city limits, with entries displayed at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.

Prairie Plein Air Competition website

Paint Cedarburg

Dates: May 31–June 7, 2026
Location: Cedarburg, WI

Wisconsin’s largest gathering of plein air artists, with over 165 participants painting historic structures, coffee shops, and the picturesque countryside.

Cedarburg Culture Center website
Cedarberg Business Website

Jefferson Plein Air

Dates: June 11–14, 2026
Location: Jefferson, WI

Artists capture historic buildings, rivers, landscapes, and other points of interest throughout Jefferson during this four-day outdoor painting competition.

Jefferson Plein Air website

Mississippi Riverscapes Plein Air Art Competition

Dates: June 1, 2026
Location: Alton, IL

An open-air art competition inviting artists to capture the scenic beauty of the Mississippi River, open to all professional and amateur artists aged 16 and up.

Mississippi Riverscapes Plein Air Art Competition website

Evanston Plein Air Festival

Dates: July 18–20, 2026
Location: Evanston, IL

A weekend event featuring a Paint Out competition, plein air art market, live music, and opportunities for artists to sell their work directly to the public.

Evanston Plein Air Festival website

Red Wing Arts Plein Air

Dates: Summer 2026
Location: Red Wing, MN

Celebrating its 19th annual event, artists paint recognizable scenes of Red Wing, capturing the interplay of light and shadow along the Mississippi River bluffs.

Red Wing Arts Plein Air website

Into Nature Plein Air Competition

Dates: Summer 2026
Location: White Bear Lake, MN

Open to artists of all experience levels, this competition captures the beauty of Minnesota summer, with all artwork displayed in the Ford Family Gallery.

Into Nature Plein Air Competition website

Iowa Plein Air Competition

Dates: Labor Day Weekend 2026
Location: Amana, IA

Iowa’s longest-tenured plein air event, combining the talents of Midwest artists with Iowa’s incredible scenery for a collaborative and comprehensive experience.

Iowa Plein Air Competition website

Waukesha Plein Air Competition

Dates: September 29–October 4, 2026
Location: Waukesha, WI

A week-long plein air event culminating in an artists reception and sales event during the Waukesha Art Crawl.

Waukesha Plein Air Competition website

Paint the Towns in Fall Color

Dates: October 1–8, 2026
Location: Plymouth, WI

Midwest artists are invited to a full week of plein air painting in historic Plymouth and surrounding rural areas, concluding with a public exhibition and silent auction.

Paint the Towns in Fall Color website

Fairfield PaintOut

Dates: September 18, 2026
Location: Fairfield, IL

Artists are invited to paint rural settings, small-town scenes, and picturesque shorelines in Southeastern Illinois, with housing and most meals provided during the week.

Fairfield PaintOut website

Note: Many plein air competition dates for 2026 haven’t been officially announced yet. Check individual event websites closer to the event dates for updated information and registration details.