“Message,” 2021, by Leily Torabi (Iran). Colored pencil on paper; 22 1/2 inches by 17 3/4 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
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 Art Renewal Center (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 over 5,000 entries from 87 countries compete for the over $130,000 prize fund 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 an artwork in more than one of the 11 categories: A painting could be in both the Landscape and Plein Air Painting categories.
The works span 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, we’ve 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, will hold an exhibition of around 100 of the best works from the 17th and 18th International ARC Salon Competitions.
“Connection,” 2024, by Anastasia Kolesnyk (Spain). Clay; 66 7/8 inches by 23 5/8 inches by 23 5/8 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“Higher Ground,” 2024, by Derek Harrison (United States). Oil on linen; 40 inches by 30 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“Marco Zamburru,” 2023, by Olivia Arts (Italy). Oil on canvas; 25 5/8 inches by 21 5/8 inches. 17th International ARC Salon.Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“The Rush of Spring,” 2024, by Erica Arcudi (United States). Oil on ACM (aluminium composite material) panel; 18 inches by 14 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. (Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center)
“Still Life With Bouquet and Butterfly, 2023, by Clélia Dumas (Switzerland). Oil on canvas; 23 5/8 inches by 15 3/4 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“Freddy,” 2024, by Kathryn Dennison (United States). Graphite, white chalk, and charcoal powder on paper; 24 inches by 18 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“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
“Red Sunset,” 2023, by Andrii Kateryniuk (Ukraine). Oil on linen; 27 1/2 inches by 35 3/8 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
“Lady in Red—Hopeful Longing,” 2024, by John Paulo Tria (Philippines). Oil on canvas; 36 inches by 24 inches. 17th International ARC Salon. Courtesy of the Art Renewal Center
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Lorraine Ferrier
Author
Lorraine Ferrier writes about fine arts and craftsmanship for The Epoch Times. She focuses on artists and artisans, primarily in North America and Europe, who imbue their works with beauty and traditional values. She's especially interested in giving a voice to the rare and lesser-known arts and crafts, in the hope that we can preserve our traditional art heritage. She lives and writes in a London suburb, in England.
