2026 NSMA PAINTING COMPETITION

The NSMA International Painting Competition is a celebration of artistic excellence, inviting global artists to showcase the finest in contemporary realist painting. This competition stands as a testament to the enduring allure and expressive power of representational painting. It provides artists with a prestigious platform to showcase their talent, engage with their peers, and contribute to the rich tapestry of representational art.

The competition, with its emphasis on artistic excellence, integrity, and engagement with peers, is designed to stand as a radiant beacon within the contemporary realist art movement for the highest standards in representational art, motivating the next generation of artists to reach for ever higher quality and impact in their work.
 

GRAND PRIZE ACQUISITION AWARD – $35,000

What distinguishes this competition most notably is its approach to the Grand Prize: a $35,000 Acquisition Award for the selected painting to join NSMA’s permanent collection. Rather than a single juror or panel selecting the winner, the finalists themselves will determine the recipient of the Acquisition Award. Each finalist has the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite work in the exhibition – excluding their own – in a ranked choice voting system, ensuring that the museum acquires a piece that is not only of the highest artistic merit, but also one that is most admired by the very artists who stand among the best of their field.

​

SMALL WORK ACQUISITION AWARD – $5,000

We are newly structuring the awards in a way that respects differences in scale while ensuring that both ambitious larger works and more intimate paintings are evaluated within a framework that allows their distinct strengths to be fully recognized and awarded. To address this, we have established a second Acquisition Award of $5,000 designated for small works (less than 22” on the longest side). All finalists, regardless of size, will continue to be eligible for the People’s Choice Award and the Director’s Choice Award, and all finalists will vote on both acquisition awards.

​

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD – $2,500 in Michael Harding Artist Materials

NSMA is collaborating with Michael Harding Paint to offer $2,500 in fine artist materials as this year’s exclusive sponsor! Michael Harding is world-renowned for producing high-performance artist materials of uncompromising quality — grounded in the techniques of the Old Masters, made with ethically sourced ingredients, and formulated for the demands of today’s serious painters who demand the best. The company produces paints and mediums with exceptional color, durability, and handling. Every formulation is made with integrity, precision, and the belief that artists deserve tools worthy of their craft. This prize will be chosen at the Awards Gala by NSMA Director, painter Michael Klein.

​

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – $2,500

Voting for the People's Choice Award is open to all museum visitors during the length of the two month finalist exhibition, and the winner will receive $2,500. The response to this award last year vastly exceeded our expectations – museum visitors  loved voting, and due to the responsibility given to them to vote for their favorite piece in the show, visitors were far more engaged in discussion and debate about the artwork than we usually observe. Museum attendance soared as visitors invited family and friends to vote alongside them.

​

JUDGING

A panel of jurors selected finalists based on artistic vision and technical skill. These finalists will then selected the Acquisition Award winners in May through a private voting process in which each finalist must vote for a painting other than their own in a ranked choice voting system. This unique method of selection is intended to foster an environment of peer respect and shared celebration.