Elizabeth Beard is originally from Youngstown, Ohio, and currently resides in New York City. She came to painting while studying at Miami University of Ohio, decided to pursue further education, and eventually graduated from the Grand Central Academy (GCA). In addition to her training at GCA, studying with Boston School Impressionist Paul Ingbretson had a major influence on her style. She is captivated by the painters of the Boston School, along with the work of Degas, Ingres, Inness, and Velázquez.

In recent years, Liz has become a mother and puts most of her energy into spending time with her toddler Samuel. Liz is dedicated to cultivating her passion for painting in the midst of motherhood and describes her limited time spent in the studio as “wild ambition, every minute treasured.” Mother and Son is her first figure painting executed in a fully impressionistic method. Working from daubs of color/value, she gradually draws out the visual impression in a process best described as “coming out of the fog.”

Elizabeth Beard was awarded the $25,000 Grand Prize Acquisition Award in NSMA’s 2025 International Painting Competition for Mother and Son.

“As I reflect on receiving the Grand Prize in the 2025 NSMA International Painting Competition, I am both honored and immensely grateful. I will never forget the shock and joy that came over me as I saw my name written on the giant $25,000 check being presented to the audience. There are few moments in life that can send you spinning as you sit still, but this was one of them. In that moment, surrounded by fellow painters who are a great inspiration to me, I felt elated. NSMA has created something very special; a competition where painters are choosing the winner, an opportunity to build community, and a yearly showing of beautiful representational paintings. I am excited for its future, and absolutely over the moon to have my painting join the permanent collection at NSMA.”