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Artist’s Choice Art Competition by Artist Space Gallery 2026 returns for its fourth edition with an open theme and an online exhibition scheduled for October. Artists worldwide can submit work in any visual art medium, including photography, with no restrictions on subject matter beyond the competition’s stated content rules. The application deadline is September 30, 2026.
Selected artists receive digital award certificates, while the jury will also recognize winners across painting, photography, and sculpture. The Best of Show artwork becomes the exhibition poster, and artist features accompany the top selections. For photographers browsing Deartline’s photo contest list, this is a broader visual arts competition in which photography has its own award category rather than competing only as part of a general mixed-media selection.
Entry costs $20 for up to two artworks or $35 for up to four artworks, and artists may submit more than one entry. Judging considers creativity, originality and quality, overall design, artistic ability, and use of medium. Selected work is presented in the October online exhibition and remains accessible afterward through Artist Space Gallery’s exhibition archives.
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Prizes
The Artist’s Choice Art Competition focuses on exhibition opportunities and recognition rather than cash awards. The jury selects award recipients alongside the artists chosen for the October online exhibition.
- Best of Show: The selected artwork is displayed on the official exhibition poster. The artist also receives a digital award certificate and is featured alongside the competition’s leading selections.
- Three Winners: Three additional winners are selected by the jury and presented alongside the Best of Show, with artist features accompanying the top selections.
- Category Awards: The jury selects award winners in painting, photography, and sculpture.
- All Selected Artists: Every artist selected for the exhibition receives a digital award certificate and inclusion in the online group show.
The finished exhibition is also retained in Artist Space Gallery’s online archives after the show.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
Artist’s Choice is an open-theme competition. All visual art mediums and artistic styles are eligible, with separate award selections in painting, photography, and sculpture.
For photographers, the absence of a prescribed subject leaves the call open to work ranging from abstract and conceptual photography to portrait, landscape, and still life work. The jury evaluates entries on the stated artistic criteria rather than on adherence to a particular subject.
Dates and Entry Fees
The fourth Artist’s Choice competition leads into an online exhibition during October 2026.
Application deadline: September 30, 2026.
Entry fee:
- $20 for up to two artworks.
- $35 for up to four artworks.
Artists may submit multiple entries, with no stated limit on the total number of entries.
How to Enter
Applicants upload an image of each artwork, with files limited to 2 MB, and provide a short biography and artist statement. After completing the required information and submitting the artwork through the online form, applicants are redirected to PayPal for payment. A confirmation email is sent once payment is complete.
Why Enter Artist’s Choice Art Competition by Artist Space Gallery 2026?
Artist’s Choice differs from photography-only calls by placing photographs within a wider visual arts exhibition while still giving photography its own award category. The open theme also leaves photographers free to submit work according to the strength of the image rather than adapting it to a predetermined subject.
The practical benefits are clearly defined: selected artists receive a digital certificate and online exhibition placement, category distinctions recognize individual media, and the Best of Show gains the exhibition poster position. The gallery also maintains an archive of its group exhibitions, so selected work remains accessible after the October show has ended.
Its online photography contest format may be particularly relevant to photographers whose work crosses into fine art or other gallery-oriented practices. The jury’s published criteria emphasize creativity, originality, quality, design, artistic ability, and use of medium, giving entrants a clearer indication of how the work will be considered.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Artist’s Choice Art Competition by Artist Space Gallery 2026 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
- The competition has an open theme and accepts all visual art mediums and artistic styles, including photography.
- The jury selects awards in painting, photography, and sculpture.
- Entries are judged on creativity, originality and quality of art, overall design, demonstration of artistic ability, and use of medium.
- Artworks containing pornographic or satanic content are not considered.
- Entry costs $20 for up to two artworks or $35 for up to four artworks, and multiple entries are allowed.
- Uploaded artwork images may be up to 2 MB.
- A short biography and artist statement are required as part of the submission process.
Copyright and Image Usage
Artists retain copyright in images submitted to competitions organized by Artist Space Gallery. The gallery states that images are used only for marketing, promotional, and display purposes within the context of its shows.
Selected artworks may also be retained in the gallery’s online archive. The published terms prohibit images displayed on the website from being resold, exchanged, or copied. They do not specify a defined duration for the gallery’s image-use permission, whether the permission is exclusive or non-exclusive, or whether sublicensing to third parties is permitted.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
