Winners of International Competition Promote Realistic Art

The finalists of the 17th International Art Renewal Center Salon Competition are in.

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Winners of International Competition Promote Realistic Art — A detail of “Book Fragrance No. 4,” 2024, by Jianwei Wu (United States). Oil on linen; 70 7/8 inches by 53 1/8 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center

12/12/2024Updated: 12/24/2024

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Realist artists and art lovers alike look forward to the annual International Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon Competition. Twenty-five years ago, American art collector Frederick Ross founded the nonprofit ARC to support traditional realist artists and realist art education around the world and to acquire notable realist artworks.

The International ARC Salon Competition is an opportunity for artists to showcase their skills, get the recognition they deserve, and gain commissions. It’s also a chance, during a time when modern and abstract art predominates, to promote and safeguard the realist art tradition for future generations.

This year, the 17th International ARC Salon Competition had more than 5,000 entries from 87 countries compete for the prize fund of more than $130,000 and to win a number of special awards, including ARC purchase awards and magazine, gallery, and museum partnerships.

The Final Cut

From 1,970 semifinalists’ artworks, some 650 artists from 55 countries made the final cut of 1,226 artworks. Artists could submit artwork in one or more of the 11 categories: figurative, portraiture, sculpture, drawing, landscape, still life, plein air painting, fully from life, animals, imaginative realism, and a special category for teenage artists.

From those finalists was compiled a small selection of works in clay, pencil, charcoal, and oil paint that honor the great tradition of realist art.

A team of judges will now choose the winners and honorable mentions. Each category award has four jurors assigned to the task, with no category having the same combination of jurors. The ARC will announce the competition winners on Jan. 7, 2025.

In the summer of 2026, Sotheby’s in New York City will hold an exhibition of about 100 of the best works from the 17th and 18th International ARC Salon Competitions.