Behind the Mask by Ten Moir Gallery is a tight, theme-driven call that asks a simple question with endless visual answers: what do people hide, and what do they reveal. Hosted by Ten Moir Gallery as part of its monthly challenge series, this edition centers on hidden selves, layered identity, and the stories that sit between performance and truth. The deadline to enter is March 4, 2026, with results emailed on March 18, 2026.
This is a multi-medium competition, but photography is clearly welcome, and even highlighted through a dedicated “Runner Ups (Traditional & Photography)” recognition tier. The prize package includes a $150 Best in Show cash award plus an interview, a mini-magazine style feature, a homepage highlight, and a free entry to the Blue Sky Artist Award. Beyond winners, selected works are presented in a curated online collection with the artist’s name and link included, designed to be shareable and easy to reference. For photographers comparing opportunities on Deartline, it sits comfortably alongside photography challenges with prizes, especially if the goal is both recognition and visibility.
For photographers building a series, the structure makes it possible to test one strong image first, then expand to a fuller set if the edit holds together. Because the theme leans toward identity and narrative, it can also fit portfolios that sit near conceptual photography contests, where meaning is built as much by choices and gestures as by the subject itself.
Contents
Prizes
The awards in this Behind the Mask by Ten Moir Gallery combine a cash prize with multiple layers of visibility, from curated listings to featured editorial-style content.
- Best in Show:
- $150 cash award
- An artist interview
- Inclusion in “The Moir” mini spotlight feature
- Homepage feature,
- A free entry to the Blue Sky Artist Award
- Runner Ups (Traditional & Photography):
- Website feature
- A dedicated social media post
- An Art Journal mini spotlight
- A free Blue Sky entry
- Finalists (Top 15–20):
- Permanent listing
- Digital certificate
- Social highlights
- All Selected Artists: Inclusion on the curated collection page with artist name, artwork title, and a link (when provided), designed to be a polished, shareable presentation.
- Community Visibility: Promotion across Ten Moir channels and partner listings, plus shareable badges and certificates for websites and social profiles.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
This call is theme-led rather than category-led. There are no separate subject categories to enter, and the competition is not divided into genres like landscape or street. Instead, the organizing idea is “Behind the Mask” as a prompt for exploring identity, concealment, self-presentation, and emotional subtext.
In terms of medium, the competition supports both 2D and 3D work, and explicitly includes photography alongside painting, sculpture, mixed media, and digital work. For photographers, that means images can be approached as portraits, staged scenes, documentary moments, or symbolic studies, as long as the connection to the theme is clear.
Dates and Entry Fees
The Behind the Mask by Ten Moir Gallery timeline includes:
Deadline to enter. March 4, 2026.
Results emailed. March 18, 2026.
Entry fees.
- 2 images $18
- 3 images $25
- 4 images $36
- 5 images $45
- 10 images $55
How to Enter:
Entries are submitted through the online form on the competition page. Applicants select the specific challenge (“Behind the Mask”), then complete the form fields such as artist name, email, country, website/portfolio (if available), and an artist statement. Artwork details are entered per upload, including title and medium, and files are uploaded as JPG or PNG with size and resolution requirements (including a minimum of 2000 pixels on the longest side).
About the Jury
According to the organizer, entries are reviewed by a panel of jurors. The evaluation is based on a set of published criteria: craftsmanship, presentation, interpretation of the theme, composition, creativity, and technical skill. Results are communicated by email on the stated date.
Why Enter Behind the Mask Art Competition?
Behind the Mask Art Competition is built around a prompt that is easy to understand but hard to exhaust, which can be useful for photographers who work with people, persona, and narrative. A “mask” can be literal, but it can also be lighting, framing, styling, distance, or the difference between what a subject shows the world and what the image quietly suggests. That makes the call relevant to photographers working near portrait-driven storytelling, including those who track portrait work and want a theme that rewards intention.
The prize structure is also layered. There is a clear top award with money and editorial-style visibility, but there are multiple outcomes short of first place: runner-up features, finalist certificates and permanent listings, and inclusion in a curated collection page with a link. For photographers comparing the best photography competitions to enter, that range of recognition can matter when the goal is to build a public record of selections, features, and published showcases, not only a single winner’s slot.
Finally, the early free-entry window creates a practical advantage. Submitting one image before the free cutoff can be a low-friction way to test a new idea or a new edit, then decide whether expanding to a larger set fits the project and budget.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Behind the Mask Art Competition has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Eligibility is listed as 18+ and open worldwide. The call encourages both 2D and 3D media, and specifically includes photography and digital work. Submissions are made through the online form, and the organizer states each artist receives one free entry per monthly challenge (within the free-entry conditions), with additional works added in the same application under the standard fee tiers.
Uploaded images are required in JPG or PNG format and must meet the stated size and resolution limits, including a minimum of 2000 pixels on the longest side.
Copyright and Image Usage
The organizer states artists keep full rights to their work. It describes using submitted and selected artworks only to highlight and promote the artist, including display in curated collections on the website, within newsletters, and across promotional channels, with the artist’s name and (when provided) a link back to the artist’s website or portfolio. It also states it does not sell, license, or claim ownership of the work.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
