Awards
All winners, honorable mentions, finalists and semi-finalists will have their entries accompanied by their name and artwork details displayed on the ARC website. Biography, photo of the artist and painting descriptions provided during the entry process may also be shown for all qualifying works. All winners, honorable mentions, and finalists will be featured in the 16th International ARC Salon Book, "International Realism". In addition, all winners and honorable mentions will receive an award certificate suitable for framing.
Inclusion in the Lunar Codex: This competition, All Winners and Honorable Mentions will also be included in the Lunar Codex, "The Polaris Collection". Art images will be laser-etched on nickel microfiche and/or digitized on terabyte memory cards, and enclosed in a time capsule on the Griffin lunar lander, launched by SpaceX, and placed on the Moon in perpetuity. The Lunar Codex is a set of time capsules launched on three NASA-related missions, including the work of 7,000 creatives. It will be the first significant placement of contemporary arts on the Moon in 50 years. While focused on visual art, the Lunar Codex also includes a substantial collection of contemporary books, stories, poetry, music, essays, and film. "The Polaris Collection" is the third and final time capsule for the Lunar Codex and will be launched alongside NASA's VIPER Rover. Headed for the Lunar South Pole, the launch is currently scheduled for fall 2023. The launch and landing will be livestreamed.
Exhibition of Selected Works
The show will consist of approximately 75 to 100 works from the 16th International ARC Salon Competition. The exhibition is planned to first open at Sotheby's NY, Sotheby's flagship New York City location, in the summer of 2023, where we will plan to hold our official award ceremony. This awe-inspiring international event will have artists from all over the world present, showcasing the true international nature and collaborative spirit in this area of Contemporary Art. The show is then tentatively planned to continue on to Sotheby's Los Angeles, California, where it will exhibit in November/ December of 2023 at their new Beverly Hills location. Established in 1744, Sotheby's is the world's largest, and most dynamic marketplace for art and luxury.
Updates, additional events, and specific dates will be announced once we finalize this international event. We will also be providing an opportunity for qualifying artists to sell their works at these venues if the artist chooses to make them available for sale.
Please note, your work does not need to be available to participate in the exhibition. You can still enter it into the ARC Salon Competition and win the top awards in the ARC Salon Competition. There will be over 180 awards and honorable mentions as well as over 1,000 finalists, so we always have enough available works to create the show.
Best in Show: $25,000 cash
The winner will also gain automatic acceptance into the ARC Approved Artist/Living Master Gallery with exemption from the application process and the application fee. ARC Artist/Living Master Gallery space in the Museum section of the ARC's website includes the artist's biographical and contact information accompanied by 25-30 images of the artist's finest works, as well as the ability to add content to the ARC Events Calendar and to make promotional announcements through the ARC Blog, ARC Newsletter and our social media outlets. To learn more about becoming an ARC Affiliated Artist, view our application pages.
The William Bouguereau Award
"Emotion, Theme, and the Figure": $3,000
This award is given to a work that focuses on Emotion, Theme, and the Figure and is awarded by ARC Chairman, Fred Ross.
FWSD 2023 Award
ARC will partner with Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) who will select between 6 and 10 works from the 16th International ARC Salon to take part in an exclusive opportunity with Fashion Week San Diego Designers. FWSD designers will be matched with the winning artists work and the designers will create an original couture outfit inspired by the work of art from the ARC Salon.
The ARC Salon winning works along with the specially designed garments will be on display with live models for a special event. Guests/attendees will be able to "vote" for their favorite piece and pairing. This will be an opportunity to promote Contemporary Realism to an audience who might not have seen it otherwise and to expose the Realist Art Movement to top fashion designers in the industry. More details to be announced.
This award will be adjudicated by the FWSD team in cooperation with the Art Renewal Center®.
Exhibition at Top New York City Gallery
Rehs Contemporary Galleries, Inc., New York City, NY will select a group of approximately 15 finalists who will be asked to supply the gallery with additional images. From those finalists, the gallery will choose a select group of artists for a group show to be held at their gallery on 57th Street in 2023. All works selected for the exhibition must be available for sale. Rehs Contemporary Galleries, Inc. began as a new venture stemming from Rehs Galleries, Inc., which specializes in 19th and early 20th century European works of art. Following in suit with the art world they know best, Rehs Contemporary Galleries, Inc., represents contemporary artists that create original works in a traditional style; works that demonstrate an artist's superior technical skills and classical training.
Springville Museum of Art Exhibition Award
The Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah, has added an ongoing award to the ARC Salon Competition, devoting a "Featured ARC Artist" gallery wall to their museum in their Founders Gallery. The museum will be selecting one ARC Salon Finalist from the state of Utah each competition to be featured at the museum over the course of the following year. The Springville Museum of Art is Utah's first museum for the visual fine arts, dedicated as a "Sanctuary of Beauty and a Temple of Contemplation." The Museum houses over 2,500 works. Utah art, twentieth-century Soviet Realist art and American art, comprise the Museum's permanent collection. With over 15 exhibitions annually, the Museum is a key promoter and contributor to the arts in Utah. Artwork is displayed throughout 29 galleries in this 45,000 square foot facility and a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden. The Museum seeks to fulfill its mission by refining minds and building character through the fine arts. As official State Wide Art Partnership (SWAP) headquarters, the Museum is home for visual art educational outreach programs to the schools of Utah. A variety of exhibitions, concerts, programs and special events are offered throughout the year.
This award will be adjudicated by a representative(s) of the Springville Museum of Art.
The ASMA Best Marine Art Awards
The American Society of Marine Artists will select three outstanding marine themed works, (one "Best Marine Themed Work" which is a $3,000 award and two Honorable Mentions where each recipient will receive a $1,000 award). Qualifying works for this award include any marine themed work drawing inspiration from a relationship with the water; Contemporary Marine Art encompasses the sea, shorelines, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams and includes marine flora and fauna. The winning artists will also be awarded an article in the prestigious American Society of Marine Artists News and Journal. The ASMA is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to recognize and promote marine art and maritime history.
These awards will be adjudicated by a board of three ASMA Fellows.
Publication Awards
The Fine Art Connoisseur Award
The winning artist will be awarded an article in the prestigious art magazine Fine Art Connoisseur that will be seen by tens of thousands of art collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. In addition, Fine Art Connoisseur will publish an article highlighting some of the winners of the 16th International Salon, just as it has highlighted winners for the past five years. This award will be chosen by the magazine's editor-in-chief, Peter Trippi, and publisher, B. Eric Rhoads. Fine Art Connoisseur serves art collectors and enthusiasts with innovative articles about representational paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. The magazine, produced by Streamline Publishing, Inc., has developed a particularly strong reputation for its editorial coverage of realism, a field of artistic excellence generally overlooked by other periodicals.
PleinAir Magazine Award
One artist who paints en plein air (outdoors) will be chosen for a feature article about their artwork in PleinAir Magazine, the best-selling art magazine in Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. This award will be chosen by the magazine's editor-in-chief, Kelly Kane, and publisher, B. Eric Rhoads. Painting from nature out-of-doors and painting from life are the foundation of much of painting throughout the history of art. Today tens of thousands of artists and collectors have joined a new plein air movement, which you can follow in PleinAir, published by Streamline Publishing, Inc.
Sheng Xinyu Art Award
The "Sheng Xinyu Art Award" will be awarded to six artists and the winning artists will receive an interview article from "Sheng Xinyu Art". “Sheng Xinyu Art", founded in 2002, is a cross-cultural international art exchange and art promotion platform. "Sheng Xinyu Art" has achieved remarkable results in promoting the communication, connection and cooperation between Chinese artists and art institutions around the world, making "Sheng Xinyu Art" one of the major players of the Chinese art world!
The website and community of "Sheng Xinyu Art" is at the center of attention of the Chinese art world. It regularly publishes articles on global art information, art competitions, exhibitions and events and it has an average of more than 1.5 million viewers every year. The interview articles of the award-winning artists will be published not only on the website of "Sheng Xinyu Art", but also on the public national website of China "art.china.cn". These awards will be chosen by Hongbin Zhang, Founder and Art Director of “Shengxinyu Art”.
PoetsArtists Publishing Prize
PoetsArtists is an online platform uniting artists, authors, art collectors, galleries and other art affiliated members. Their mission is to ignite creativity and connect an already strong community with further artistic and literary opportunities. Their focus is on Contemporary Figurative Realism, portraiture, and poetry. They are also partners with the prominent 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago. This year's award will be chosen by the prominent art collector Kiki Kim from the IBEX Collection.
PoetsArtists will publish a commemorative catalogue of the artworks Kiki Kim chooses for the prize. The catalogue will feature from 5 to 10 artists and include the artwork chosen by Ms. Kim as well as information about the artists which may include a bio, interview, and commentary about the work from Ms. Kim. The catalogue will be available in digital format and as a download from the PoetsArtists website. A print-on-demand edition will also be available.
The Artist Award
The winning artist will be featured in The Artist magazine. Published in the UK, with a worldwide circulation, the magazine is written by artists, for artists, and has been inspiring experienced amateurs and professional painters since 1931. Each issue of The Artist is packed with drawing and painting demonstrations, practical guidance, insights into leading professional artists’ working practices and test reports on materials and techniques to help develop readers’ confidence and skills in all media. This award will be juried by the magazine’s publishing editor Dr Sally Bulgin.
Southwest Art Magazine Award
The winner of this award will have their work featured in Southwest Art Magazine in connection to an article on the 16th ARC Salon Competition / Exhibition. With over 50 years of experience, Southwest Art is the leading magazine devoted to American Western art. Each issue puts readers in touch with the artists, galleries, and collectors that shape the market. Southwest Art is part of the Fine Art group at Golden Peak Media which offers magazines, online content, fine art contests, art videos, art classes, and more. This award will be adjudicated by the magazine's Editor In Chief, Kristin Hoerth.
Enchanted Living Magazine Award
Enchanted Living, formally known as Faerie Magazine, is a quarterly print magazine that celebrates all things enchanted — from a scattering of mushrooms in an ancient forest to a sweet, scented gown made only of roses. The New York Times described it this way: "It's as though Martha Stewart's Living and Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene had a magazine baby." Founded by artist and visionary Kim Cross in 2005 and helmed by novelist Carolyn Turgeon since 2013, the magazine is a feast for the senses. Every issue features exquisite photography, recipes, original fiction and poetry, travel pieces, artist profiles, home decor, otherworldly beauty tips, craft tutorials, and much more—with a dash of enchantment sprinkled throughout. The publication reaches readers not only in its print and digital editions (including through the Faerie Mag app) but also through its massive social media platforms, with 1.6 million fans on Facebook, 342,000 on Instagram, and 85,000 subscribers to its weekly newsletter. This publication award will be given to an artist whose work is entered in the Imaginative Realism Category and captures a love of fantasy and creativity. This award will be juried by the magazine's editor in chief Carolyn Turgeon, art director Lisa Gill, and photo editor Steve Parke.
Artists & Illustrators Magazine Award
A featured article about your work in Artists & Illustrators magazine and a one-year subscription to the magazine’s Portfolio Plus service.
Written for artists and art lovers, Artists & Illustrators magazine provides practical painting advice and inspiration. Each issue contains a colorful palette of artist profiles and features, together with valuable practical ideas, expert technical advice and a host of “How to” guides written by leading artists. Whether you favor oils or watercolors, portraits or landscapes, abstract art or botanical illustration, Artists & Illustrators magazine brings a refreshing blend of creativity and advice every four week. The Artists & Illustrators website has hundreds of How to Guides to get you inspired, as well as regular art competitions and offers – plus take a look around Portfolio Plus, the exciting online community in which artists can share, showcase and sell their work from their own personalized webpage. This award will be adjudicated by Niki Browes, the magazine’s editor.
The InsideArt Award
The winning artist will be awarded an article in InsideArt, the prestigious new art newsletter from Streamline Publishing, Inc. The article will be seen by over 130,000 artists worldwide. In addition, InsideArt will publish an article highlighting some of the winners of the 16th International Salon, with a focus on the process of creating the art. This award will be chosen by InsideArt publisher B. Eric Rhoads and editor Christopher Volpe. InsideArt is focused on inspiration in all forms of representational and realistic art creation, from painting and sculpting the figure, portrait, and landscape to fine and decorative arts. The daily newsletter, produced by Streamline Publishing, Inc., is designed to promote and teach artistic excellence, design, and aesthetics from leading art makers worldwide.
Western Art Collector Award
Western Art Collector is proud to present the Western Art Collector Award, which will recognize an artist who exhibits a work of art that draws inspiration—in setting, subject or style—from the American West. The Western art genre includes a wide range of subjects, from landscapes and wildlife, to historical images of cowboys and cattle, to modern-day people who call the West home. This award will honor an artist who best explores the themes and subjects of the West. The award winner will receive a one-page Artist Focus feature in the June 2023 issue of Western Art Collector and also have the opportunity to be a guest on the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. The award will be juried by the magazine's executive editor, Michael Clawson, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
International Artist Award
International Artist Publishing is proud to offer the International Artist Award. The winning artist will receive a Master Painter profile in the June/July 2023 issue of International Artist magazine. This four-page article allows artists to describe their style, technical processes and personal story, as well as showcase a handful of their best works and the inspiration behind them. In addition to the printed article, winners will be interviewed and featured on an episode of the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. Since 1998, International Artist has highlighted only the best artists from around the world in the pages of the printed magazine and website so it can be seen by galleries, collectors and artists in more than 21 countries worldwide. The award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Alyssa M. Tidwell, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
American Art Collector Award
International Artist Publishing is proud to offer the American Art Collector Award, which will recognize an artist who exhibits excellence in Contemporary Realism. The recipient will be the subject of a one-page Artist Focus feature in the June 2023 issue of American Art Collector and have the opportunity to be a guest on the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. American Art Collector — along with its sister publications American Fine Art Magazine, International Artist, Western Art Collector and Native American Art — is committed to connecting artists, galleries and collectors so that art can find its way into homes and collections around the world. The award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Sarah Gianelli, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
American Fine Art Magazine Award
American Fine Art Magazine will honor an artist who masterfully exhibits the influence of historic American art within their submitted work. Contemporary artists are often guided by the past, and this award will honor an artist who calls out to American art history and also builds upon it. The award winner will receive a one-page Artist Focus feature in the June 2023 issue of American Fine Art Magazine's sister magazine, American Art Collector, which highlights contemporary representational painters and sculptors working today. The recipient will also have the opportunity to be a guest on the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. All five of IAP's publications — American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, Native American Art, American Fine Art Magazine and International Artist — serve to connect artists, galleries and collectors so that fine art can find its way into homes and collections all around the globe. The award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Sarah Gianelli, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
Minimum of $60,000 in ARC Purchase Awards
Purchase awards will be chosen from the finalists and awarded at the sole discretion of the ARC's Chairs, Frederick C. Ross, and Kara Lysandra Ross for the Art Renewal Center's® growing collection. Works do not need to be for sale for all other awards other then Purchase awards.
MEAM Purchase Award
The MEAM (European Museum of Modern Art) is a museum dedicated to Contemporary Realism located at the Gomis Palace, in the middle of the streets of the Born in Barcelona, a neighborhood where culture is always present and reflects the charm of the old part of the city, an area that knows how to mix tradition and modernity, becoming a required visit for the tourists interested in Monumental Barcelona. They will be awarding a purchase award to one of the entrants of the 16th International Salon Competition. This purchase award will be displayed in the European Museum of Modern Art on public view and it will become part of the permanent collection of the museum, and therefore will always be exhibited during the months this collection is open. This award will be adjudicated by the President of the Fundació Privada de les Arts i els Artistes and Director of the MEAM, Mr. Jose Enrique González Rodríguez.
C/ Barra de Ferro 5
08003
Barcelona, Spain
www.meam.es
General Awards
| Most Ambitious Work | $250 |
| Best Nude | $250 |
| Best Trompe L'oeil | $250 |
| Best Social Commentary | $250 |
| Best Watercolor | $250 |
| Best Pastel | $250 |
| 11 First Place Awards | $2,500 awarded in each category |
| 11 Second Place Awards | $1,000 awarded in each category |
| 11 Third Place Awards | $500 awarded in each category |
| Chairman's Choice Award | Minimum of 3 awarded at $300 each |
| ARC Staff Award | Minimum of 6 awarded each by the ARC Staff |
| 88 Honorable Mentions | 8 awarded in each category |
All Semi-Finalists will have their entry accompanied by their name and title of work displayed on the ARC website.
All Finalists will have their entry accompanied by their name and title of work displayed on the ARC website and will also be featured in the 16th ARC Salon Competition Book, "International Realism".
* ARC reserves the right to adjust awards up or down by a maximum of 20% based on the number of entries received.
Artists must submit digital files in JPEG format via our online entry form. Glass slides, images on CDs and large format transparencies will not be accepted. All digital images must be at least 1MB in size. If you have a technical problem submitting your entry, or cannot submit via our online system, please contact our Museum Archivist Yvette Lytle at Yvette.Lytle@artrenewal.org. The competition is open to all those who wish to enter worldwide.
16th International ARC Salon Publication
A full color book, International Realism, will be published of all award winning entries and finalists. Each entrant will receive one copy of the 16th ARC Salon publication (included for free with the first entry) as long as shipping is paid for at check out. You can also pre-purchase additional copies as the price is higher after finalists are announced. This publication will be approximately 400 pages, with hard cover, and retail between $65 — $75.
Pre-publication price per book: $45.00. (Shipping not included.)
13th ARC Salon Book at Sotheby's, LA
Postage Fees
| Region | for 1 | for 2 to 3 |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $19.50 | $39 |
| Canada | $65 | $89 |
| All other international | $103 | $135 |
Example book, International Realism, from the 15th International ARC Salon