The 37th Annual Art Competition

Every year, Artists Magazine has the happy job of showcasing the exceptional art being made today by artists who deserve time in the spotlight. With the help of five distinguished art jurors, we have awarded three prizes and 10 honorable mentions in five categories. This year’s award-winning artists have employed a variety of media and techniques to bring their visions to life. Drawing inspiration from the divine, the natural and the quotidian, these works display a range of expression from the powerful to the playful. In this 21-page competition showcase, we celebrate talent, hard work and the awesome scope of creativity.

Prizewinners | ANIMAL/WILDLIFE

JUROR: GREG BEECHAM gbeecham.work

First Place NANCY K. BASS

“I found this piece very creative, with excellent draftsmanship, humor and a great handling of light. It speaks to me.”
—GREG BEECHAM

Boca Grande, Fla.nancybassartist.com

At the Museum (After Mel Bochner) oil on canvas, 36x36

My ongoing series, “At the Museum,” builds on a passion for painting cows that I developed over the course of many years of raising cattle in central Virginia. Each painting in the series juxtaposes a cow with an iconic work of American or European art. This reflects my interest in the exploration of color and texture, and the boundary between nature and culture. Mel Bochner’s Blah, Blah, Blah appealed to me both for its playful use of text and its message, which perfectly captures the ennui of the present moment. The challenge lay in finding the perfect cow to pair with the colors and attitude of the artwork.

Second Place CARRIE COOK

Austin, Texas carriecook.com