CaRt26: Contemporary Art in Realism

International Deadline: April 13, 2026 – Join 3 Square Art Gallery in celebrating realism’s enduring legacy and dynamic present. CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism invites artists worldwide to submit works showcasing masterful realism with fresh relevance—photorealist precision, figurative storytelling, innovative everyday perspectives, or thoughtful modern narratives.

In the mid-20th century, Abstract Expressionism dominated, prioritizing abstraction, emotion, and gesture over literal representation. Yet in the 1960s, Contemporary Realism emerged as a powerful counterpoint, reclaiming the observable world with clarity and technical sophistication.

Exhibit Date: June 19 – July 31, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY
The CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism competition is open to artists worldwide aged 18+ (at time of entry) submitting original works created on or after April 2021 (any work completed before then will be disqualified).

• The theme of this exhibition is contemporary realism. We seek masterful representational works that capture the essence of the observable world with fresh relevance—whether through portraits, figures, still lifes, interiors, landscapes, or other everyday subjects infused with a modern, objective sensibility.
• Media: Traditional only—Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking (drawing-based). No digital art, photography, AI-generated elements, or reproductions.
• Artworks must be have been created in the past 5 years; any artworks completed before April, 2021 will be disqualified.
• No size restrictions, provided the work fits through a 6ft x 7ft doorway for installation/shipping.
• All artwork must be original, independently created, and not produced under instructor direction (e.g., workshops/classes).

AWARDS & BENEFITS
$3500 in cash awards:

• 3SA Gold Award: $2000 + Certification
• 3SA Silver Award: $1000 + Certification
• 3SA Bronze Award: $500 + Certification
• Honorable Mention Award: Certification

Selected artists for the exhibition receive the following benefits:

• Juried Exhibit
• Posting to 3SA website and social media platforms
• Professional exhibition space and display of artwork
• Leading Art Center with presence in Northern Colorado and Miami (great addition to resume)
• Accepted artists will be listed on the 3SA website with their work and link to their website
• Press releases on exhibition sent to 3SA media outlets

APPLY ONLINE – From $65 Entry
Visit us for more information and easy online entry.

Notifications: April 29 – May 6, 2026.