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 some finalists will be featured in the 17th/18th International ARC Salon Book, "International Realism". In addition, all winners and honorable mentions will receive an award certificate suitable for framing. Works do not need to be available for sale to win any of the below awards other then Purchase Awards. Works do not need to be available to exhibit in the ARC Salon Exhibition for all awards other then FWSD Awards.
Exhibition of Selected Works
The show will consist of approximately 100 of the best works from the combined 17th and 18th International ARC Salon Competitions. The exhibition is planned to open at what will be Sotheby's New York’s new flag ship, Madison Avenue location, from July 17 — July 27, 2026, where we will 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. 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 this venue 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 to participate in the competition. You can still enter into the ARC Salon Competition and win the top awards. There will be over 180 awards and honorable mentions as well as over 1,000 finalists from the 17th ARC Salon Competition alone, so there is always enough available works to create the show.
Best in Show: $25,000 cash
This year the $25,000 prize for Best in Show has been generously provided by the MacAvoy Foundation. The MacAvoy Foundation is dedicated to the creation and preservation of beauty and history. They support a variety of organizations that uphold classical values and support artists using timeless principles and masterful techniques.
In addition, the winner will gain automatic acceptance into the ARC Approved Artist/Living Master Gallery with exemption from the application process and the application fee. The ARC Artist/Living Master Gallery space is located in the museum section of the ARC's website and 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 2025 Award
ARC will partner with Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) who will select 5 works from the 18th 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 on July 25, 2026 at Sotheby's New York, while the ARC Salon Exhibition is on view. 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 to 30 finalists who will be asked to supply the gallery with additional images. From those finalists, the gallery will choose a select group of artists to create new works for a group show to be held at their gallery on 55th Street in 2026 or 2027 depending on how much time the artists need to complete their new works. 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.
MEAM Exhibition Award
The museum will be selecting one to three ARC Salon Finalists to be exhibited at the museum for a two month duration in 2026. 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. This award will be adjudicated by the President of the Fundació Privada de les Arts i els Artistes and Director of the MEAM, Jordi Diaz Alamà.
C/ Barra de Ferro 5
08003
Barcelona, Spain
www.meam.es
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 $2000 award, and two honorable mentions, for which each recipient will receive a $500 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 17th and 18th International Salons, just as it has highlighted winners for the past six years. This award will be chosen by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Peter Trippi, and publisher, B. Eric Rhoads. Fine Art Connoisseur provides a fresh perspective, serving art collectors and enthusiasts with innovative articles about representational/realist paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. It has been a standard-bearer for the development, exposure, and encouragement of realism within its pages and with events like Realism Live and the Figurative Art Convention & Expo (FACE). Fine Art Connoisseur is published by Streamline Publishing, Inc.
PleinAir Magazine Award
One artist who paints en plein air (a French term for painting from life outdoors) will be chosen for a feature article about their artwork in PleinAir Magazine, the best-selling art magazine at 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 from life is the foundation of much of painting throughout history, as working outdoors helps artists reflect light and color more accurately. Each issue of PleinAir features events, reviews, and stories of contemporary and historical artists, and reflects the worldwide plein air movement — along with the Plein Air Today newsletter, the PleinAir Live online conference, the in-person Plein Air Convention & Expo, and the PleinAir Salon $50,000 Art Competition. Tens of thousands of artists and collectors have joined a new plein air movement. You can follow it all 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 "Sheng Xinyu" information release platform to be promoted to other media outlets. These awards will be chosen by Hongbin Zhang, Founder and Art Director of “Shengxinyu Art”.
33PA Publishing Prize
33PA is an online platform and art community providing publishing and marketing opportunities to artists. They have partnered with 33 Contemporary offering artists online group shows at Artsy as well as exhibitions in fairs and the new showroom located in South Florida. This year's award will be chosen by Dr. Samuel Peralta, physicist, arts curator, and founder of the Lunar Codex.
33PA will publish a commemorative catalogue of the artworks Dr. Samuel Peralta chooses for the prize. The catalogue will feature up to 10 artists whose work is primarily in contemporary realism and the publication will include the artwork chosen by Dr. Peralta as well as information about the artists which may include a bio, interview, and commentary about the work written by Dr. Peralta. The catalogue will be available to download from the 33PA 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 editor Jane Stroud.
Southwest Art Magazine Award
The winner of this award will have their work featured in "The Art List" section of Southwest Art Magazine to highlight their distinguished accomplishment. The winning work will also be featured in connection to an article on the 17th and 18th ARC Salon Competitions / Exhibition prior to the show in 2026. 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, Rochelle Belsito.
Enchanted Living Magazine Award
Enchanted Living, formerly 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 faerie magic sprinkled throughout. The publication reaches readers not only in its print and digital editions but also through its massive social media platforms, with 1.6 million fans on Facebook, over 400,000 on Instagram, and 90,000 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
This includes an article about your work in, Artists & Illustrators, Britain's best-selling art magazine, plus a one-year subscription to the title's British Art Club service. Written for artists and art lovers, Artists & Illustrators provides practical painting advice and inspiration. Each issue contains a colourful palette of artist's profiles and features, together with valuable practical ideas by leading professional artists. Whether you favour oils or watercolour portraits or landscapes, abstract art or botanical illustration, Artists & Illustrators magazine brings a refreshing blend of creativity and advice every four weeks. Additionally, the Artists & Illustrators website has hundreds of How to Guides to get you inspired, as well as regular art competitions and offers. This award will be adjudicated by the magazine's editor, Niki Browes.
Plus, take a look around the British Art Club, the exciting online community in which artists can share, showcase and sell their work from their own personalised webpage from just £2.49 a month.
Artists & Illustrators magazine will also bring The British Art Prize 2025 to you later this year. The British Art Prize is a major annual, international, art competition celebrating excellence in art from emerging artists around the world. Entries are set to open in the Spring. Stay tuned.
The INSIDEART Award
The winning artist will be awarded an article in INSIDEART, the prestigious complimentary 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 17th and 18th International Salons, 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. It is packed with the stories behind the art, featuring both contemporary and historical artists. INSIDEART is the most widely distributed art newsletter in America, produced by Streamline Publishing, Inc.
Western Art Collector Award of Excellence
Western Art Collector is proud to offer the Western Art Collector Award of Excellence. This award recognizes an artist whose art entry 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 editorial piece in a 2026 issue of Western Art Collector and be considered as 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 of Excellence
International Artist Publishing is proud to offer the International Artist Award of Excellence. The winning artist will receive a Master Artist profile in a 2026 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, the winner will be considered for a feature on an episode of the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. Since 1998, International Artist has highlighted the best artists from around the world. The award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Alyssa M. Tidwell, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
American Art Collector Award of Excellence
International Artist Publishing is proud to offer the American Art Collector Award of Excellence, which recognizes an artist who exhibits distinction in Contemporary Realism. The recipient will be the subject of a one-page Artist Focus editorial piece in a 2026 issue of American Art Collector and will be considered for a guest spot on the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. This award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Sarah Gianelli, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
American Fine Art Magazine Award of Excellence
American Fine Art Magazine presents an award of excellence honoring 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 honors an artist who calls out to American art history and builds upon it. The award winner will receive a one-page Artist Focus editorial piece in a 2026 issue of American Art Collector, American Fine Art Magazine's sister magazine, which highlights contemporary representational painters and sculptors working today. The recipient will also be considered for a guest spot on the American Art Collective, the official podcast of International Artist Publishing. This award will be juried by the magazine's editor, Sarah Gianelli, and publishers Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo.
American Essence Magazine Award
The winner will be an artist living and working within the United States and will receive a feature article on their work in American Essence Magazine. American Essence focuses on traditional American values and great American stories. Regular features include stories of the Founding Fathers, great Americans, small farms, beautiful landscapes, small-town living, American artists, historical buildings, Made In America products, and people who exemplify achievement, creativity, and enterprise. This award will be juried by the American Essence Arts and Letters editor, Sharon Kilarski, in cooperation with the magazine's partner, the Renaissance Center of Art.
Purchase Awards
MacAvoy Foundation Purchase Awards
This year the Art Renewal Center has received a generous grant from the MacAvoy Foundation. Between $15,000 - $25,000 will be used to purchase works into the ARC Collection. The MacAvoy Foundation is dedicated to the creation and preservation of beauty and history, supporting a variety of organizations that uphold classical values. The MacAvoy Foundation also supports artists using timeless principles and masterful techniques with particular interests in fantastical, mythological, surreal, and historical subject matters. MacAvoy Foundation Purchase Awards will be selected by the Founder and President of the MacAvoy Foundation, Bob MacAvoy, and the MacAvoy Head of Arts Division, Bridget MacAvoy, in cooperation with the Art Renewal Center.
ARC Purchase Awards
In addition to the MacAvoy Foundation Purchase Awards, the ARC will be offering an additional $40,000 for ARC Purchase awards which will be 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.
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. Finalists also qualify for potential inclusion in the 17th/18th ARC Salon Competition Book, "International Realism".
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.
17/18th International ARC Salon Publication
A full color book, International Realism, will be published of all award winning entries and honorable mentions from the 17th and 18th International ARC Salon Competitions combined. Additionally, there will be space for approximately 100 pages worth of ARC Salon finalists from the 17th ARC Salon and approximately 100 pages worth of ARC Salon finalists from the 18th ARC Salon. Each entrant will receive one copy of the 17th/18th 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 now, as the price is higher after finalists are announced. This publication will be approximately 500 pages, with hard cover, and retail between $65 — $75. (Release date for this publication will be Summer 2026)
Pre-publication price per book: $45.00. (Shipping not included.)
16th ARC Salon Book at Sotheby's, NY
Postage Fees
| Region | for 1 | for 2 |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $19.50 | $39 |
| Canada | $65 | $89 |
| All other international | $103 | $135 |
Example book, International Realism, from the 16th International ARC Salon