The 17th Abstracts Art Competition by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery 2026 invites artists and photographers to explore the non-representational world. This international competition seeks to showcase the best non-objective art from around the globe, providing a platform for creators to share their unique visual language.
For photographers browsing for photo contest deadlines that offer significant online visibility, this event is a strong contender. Light Space & Time (LST) is known for its robust marketing efforts, ensuring that winning works are seen by gallery directors, art collectors, and consultants. Whether your work is a macro study of rust and peeling paint or a digital manipulation of light and shadow, this competition welcomes all 2D and 3D interpretations of the abstract theme.
The deadline for submissions is March 27, 2026. This competition is open to artists worldwide aged 18 and older. With entry fees designed to be accessible and special rates for students, it offers a low-barrier entry point to gain professional recognition. If you have images that defy easy categorization and celebrate the essence of visual art, LST wants to see them.
Contents
Contest Prizes
The rewards for this competition focus on promotion, validation, and digital visibility. The gallery leverages its extensive network to ensure winning artists receive significant exposure.
- Best in Show: The top winning artist will receive a $100 cash prize.
- Marketing and Publicity: The top 12 winning artists will have their art promoted and circulated to hundreds of major news outlets, including syndicated Premium News Outlets, with inclusion on Google News and Bing News.
- Online Exhibition: All winning artists (including Special Merit and Special Recognition categories) will be featured in the gallery’s online exhibition for the month of April 2026. The exhibition remains archived on the site.
- Artist Promotion: Winners receive a dedicated “Link back” to their own website, which is valuable for SEO. They also receive a digital Award Certificate, Event Postcard, and Press Release materials.
Related Photo Contests
Categories
This Abstracts Art Competition by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery operates under a single, central theme: Abstracts. The organizers are looking for non-objective and/or non-representational art.
The contest is open to all media, including photography, digital art, painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
Dates and Entry Fees
The competition follows a clear schedule leading up to the spring exhibition.
| Art Competition Opens | December 15, 2025 |
| Early Registration and Lower Fees End | January 1, 2026 |
| Deadline for Receiving Entries | March 27, 2026 |
| Results Emailed to Artists and Posted | April 1, 2026 |
| Art Exhibition Opens | April 1, 2026 |
| Online Art Exhibition Closes and Archived | April 30, 2026 |
Entry Fees:
- Early registration fees:
- $16 for 1 to 2 entries
- $24 for 3 to 5 entries
- Standard fees:
- $18 for 1 to 2 entries
- $26 for 3 to 5 entries
- Student fees*:
- $12 for 1 to 2 entries
- $22 for 3 to 5 entries
* Only for students registered with Submittable who have an EDU email extension.
How to Enter
Submissions are handled digitally through the Light Space & Time website (via Submittable).
Format: Images must be JPEGs.
Size: Files should be at least 1200 pixels on the longest side and 72 dpi.
Process: Complete the online entry form, upload your images, and pay the entry fee. You will need to provide a short bio written in the third person.
About the Jury
The adjudication process is led by the gallery’s directors, Chris and Valerie Hoffman. Chris Hoffman is a retired fine artist, while Valerie Hoffman brings expertise as an art marketing specialist. Together, they review submissions based on creativity, originality, interpretation of the “Abstracts” theme, and overall artistic quality.
Why Enter Abstracts Art Competition by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery?
This competition could be one of the best photography challenges online for artists seeking tangible marketing results. Unlike contests that simply display a winner’s image, LST actively works to promote your art to a network of professionals. The inclusion of a press release distribution for top winners is a service that would typically cost hundreds of dollars on its own.
Furthermore, the low entry fees and student discounts make it accessible to emerging talent. The “link back” feature to your artist website provided to all winners is a powerful SEO benefit that helps collectors find you directly.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the 17th “Abstracts” Art Competition by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Copyright: The artist retains all copyrights to their images.
Usage Rights: By entering, you grant Light Space & Time the right to use your images for marketing and promotional purposes related to the exhibition and the gallery. This includes usage on the website, social media, and in press releases.
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide aged 18 and older. Entries must be original works.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
