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Painting · Worldwide

Painting Open Calls & Competitions

Painting prizes, juried exhibitions, and residencies with real studio space. Verified and updated throughout the week.
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2,300+ tracked since launch
Closing this week12URGENT
EXHExhibition
Open to all·Ottawa, Canada·Free entry

Ottawa School of Art Call for Exhibition Proposals 2027-2028

Ontario CARFAC artist's exhibition fee paid to the exhibiting artist(s)

The Ottawa School of Art invites artists and collectives to submit proposals for its 2027-2028 exhibition season at two Ottawa venues: the J.W. Stellick Gallery in the ByWard Market and the Orleans Campus Gallery in the Shenkman Arts Centre.

Ottawa School of Art
Closing
Tomorrow
1 day left
4 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
Domestic·Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States·Entry fee $20

Seasons: Open Juried Show

Not specified

Rhode Island Watercolor Society runs Seasons, an open juried show at its Pawtucket gallery, on view October 3 to November 6. Artists may submit up to three entries and the juror is listed as TBA.

Rhode Island Watercolor Society
Closing
Tomorrow
1 day left
4 Sept 2026
RESResidency
International·Syracuse, New York, United States·Free entry

2027 Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence

$10,000 stipend per artist (paid quarterly), plus up to $2,000 reimbursement for production of final project. Exhibition in 2028.

A year-long residency (Jan-Dec 2027) for two artists to pursue creative visual inquiry into the New York State Canal System, reflecting on its past, present condition, and future. Artists engage with the Canal, communities, and partner organizations.

Erie Canal Museum / New York State Canal Corporation
Closes in
3
days
6 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
International·The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Limerick, Ireland (gallery and online), Ireland·Entry fee €15

Hunt Open Submission Exhibition 2026

Inclusion in a juried museum exhibition (5 Dec 2026 - 21 Feb 2027) plus four special exhibition awards. Award amounts not specified.

The Hunt Museum, one of Ireland's leading cultural institutions housed in the historic Custom House in Limerick, presents its Second Annual Hunt Open Submission Exhibition.

The Hunt Museum
Closes in
4
days
7 Sept 2026
FELFellowship
International·Princeton, United States·Free entry

The Hodder Fellowship

$93,000 stipend for a 10-month Visiting Fellow appointment

The Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University supports artists and writers of exceptional promise, selected more for promise than for performance.

Princeton University
Closes in
5
days
8 Sept 2026
GRTGrant
Regional·Montevideo, Uruguay·Free entry

Fundación Ama Amoedo Grants

Ten grants of USD 10,000 each, across four categories (Artists, Art and Social Engagement, Organizations, Publications).

The fourth edition of the Fundación Ama Amoedo Grants awards ten grants of USD 10,000 each across four categories (Artists, Art and Social Engagement, Organizations, Publications).

Fundación Ama Amoedo
Closes in
6
days
9 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
International·Denver, Colorado, United States·Entry fee See official site

Artburst Studios: "Pattern Language" Online Art Show

Juror's Award USD 350; two Honorable Mention Awards of USD 100 each.

Artburst Studios hosts curated online art shows connecting artists directly with collectors. "Pattern Language" runs October 28 to November 11, 2026. Shows are fast-paced boutique events lasting under 72 hours, with artwork available for purchase on the Artburst website.

Artburst Studios
Closes in
6
days
9 Sept 2026
PUBPublic Art
Domestic·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

George Street Construction Hoarding Public Art

Four shortlisted artists: $1,000 CAD each to develop design concepts. Selected artist: $8,000 CAD (+HST) for final design, consultation, and services.

The City of Toronto seeks a Canadian artist working in two-dimensional media to create custom art for construction site hoarding along 309-345 George Street, part of the George Street Revitalization Project replacing Seaton House with a modern facility integrating shelter…

City of Toronto
Closes in
6
days
9 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
International·Chicago, Illinois, United States·Entry fee €20

ORAC Gallery Open Call: Artist Selection for Spectrum Chicago 2026

The selected artist is presented by ORAC Gallery inside the gallery's own booth at Spectrum Chicago 2026, with exhibition space, curatorial selection and development of the presentation, installation coordination, on-site gallery representation, inclusion in the gallery's fair communication and sales representation during the fair. No booth fee, exhibition fee, curatorial fee or participation fee is charged to the selected artist.

ORAC Gallery, run by ORACART sp. z o.o. out of Nowolipki 27 in Warsaw, is picking one artist to present inside its booth at Spectrum Chicago 2026, held at THE MART in Chicago from 7 to 10 October 2026.

ORAC Gallery
Closes in
7
days
10 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
International·Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom·Entry fee £36

ArtEvol 2026 International Art Exhibition in London

Free exhibition at Saatchi Gallery (no hanging or display fees)

ArtEvol 2026 is an international open call inviting artists across different cultures, disciplines and lived realities to exhibit at the iconic Saatchi Gallery in London.

London Art Collective
Closes in
7
days
10 Sept 2026
FELFellowship
International·Cambridge, United States·Free entry

Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Program

Stipend of $78,000 plus an additional $5,000 for project expenses; fellows may also be eligible for relocation, housing, and childcare funds, with healthcare support available.

The Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard Radcliffe Institute is a residential fellowship supporting artists, scholars, scientists, and writers who pursue an individual project over an academic year in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Harvard Radcliffe Institute
Closes in
7
days
10 Sept 2026
COMCompetition
Domestic·, ·Free entry

The Art Circle Award 2026 Sixth Edition: On Mending

AED 20,000 prize for the winner. The winning artwork enters The Art Circle Collection and may be reproduced as Giclee prints for distribution in 2027. All finalists receive a certificate and social media coverage.

The Art Circle Award 2026 invites UAE-based artists to submit original paintings responding to the theme On Mending, exploring healing, continuity, scars, fragmentation, resistance, and care in response to personal, social, political, and environmental ruptures.

The Art Circle
Closes in
7
days
10 Sept 2026
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✦ PAINTING OPEN CALLS

Painting open calls, answered.

Painting remains the backbone of juried exhibitions and art prizes worldwide: national painting prizes, landscape and portrait awards, gallery open submissions, and residencies with studio space suited to painters.

This page collects every live call on Arthead tagged for painting, across oil, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed techniques, each verified by hand before listing.

What painting-specific opportunities should I look for?
Dedicated painting prizes often carry the largest awards, including acquisitive prizes where the host purchases the winning work. Beyond prizes, look for juried group shows with named jurors and residencies offering proper studio space, ventilation, and wall area.
Do I ship original paintings for juried shows?
Selection is almost always juried from digital images first; only accepted work ships. Shipping and insurance for paintings can be significant, especially internationally, so check the venue location and any size limits on the listing before entering large work.
How do painting calls treat digital or reproduced work?
Most painting categories require original physical work; prints of paintings usually belong in print or open-media categories instead. Read the medium definition in the official rules, since misclassified entries are commonly disqualified without refund.