CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism
3rd International Juried Exhibition
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.
Artists like Philip Pearlstein, Alex Katz, Neil Welliver, William Bailey, and Lois Dodd—often transitioning from abstract influences—revitalized traditional genres: portraits, landscapes, interiors, still lifes. They infused everyday subjects with a modern, objective sensibility, drawing from the intimacy of masters like Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard while rooting their work firmly in the everyday.
From the 1960s onward, Contemporary Realism has endured as a vital movement, marrying rigorous skill with cultural relevance and proving the genre's ongoing evolution.
Today, realism is surging anew—a testament to its timeless appeal and universal resonance. In an age of digital abstraction, AI-generated imagery, and fleeting virtual experiences, there's a renewed hunger for the unmistakably human: the artist's deliberate hand, eye, and craft that create tangible, authentic connection. Realism offers grounding in shared reality, emotional depth, and the simple yet profound challenge of bringing an image to life through mastery of the medium.
Artists today approach their subjects with a keen eye for detail, employing innovative techniques—from hyper-precise rendering to narrative subtlety—to capture the essence of the world around them. Whether tackling contemporary themes like identity, environment, and urban life, or simply recreating the beauty they observe with skill and sensitivity, they speak a language that transcends boundaries, inviting viewers from all walks of life to share in the tangible world's beauty and complexity.
Join us 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.
Let's bridge past traditions, present innovations, and future possibilities.
Juried by four contemporary masters of realism:
Kazuhiro Yamada
Kumiko S. McKee
Ricki Klages
Rubén Fernández Pereira
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Details
Exhibit Date: June 19 – July 31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 19 from 6-8pm
Gallery Hours: Thursday - Sunday from 1-5pm
Jurors
(left to right)
Kazuhiro Yamada
A renowned Japanese contemporary realist painter from Oita Prefecture, known for his atmospheric landscapes, still lifes, and imaginative realist works in oil. His evocative pieces blend precise observation with poetic light and mood. He has earned international acclaim, including the Chairman's Choice Award (the first for a Japanese artist) at the 14th International ARC Salon Competition, multiple finalist honors in ARC Salons, and exhibitions with the Salon d'Automne in Paris. His work has been featured in prestigious venues like Sotheby's New York and MEAM Barcelona, showcasing his role in the global representational art movement, and his work will be included in the 2025 Lunar Codex project (a global cultural archive preserved on the Moon).
Kumiko S. McKee
A Japanese-American contemporary realism artist specializing in portrait drawings and conceptual figurative paintings in graphite and oil. Her work explores quiet emotional depth, inner stillness, and the subtle layers of human identity, expressed through sensitive observation and refined realism. Her work has received numerous recognitions, including First Place in Strokes of Genius 12 (featured in Artists Magazine: The Best of Drawing), Honorable Mention in the 15th International ARC Salon, Honorable Mention in IBPC 2025 (International Biennial Portrait Competition), selection as one of 28 works in Sotheby’s 2021 auction Contemporary Realism: Important 21st Century Works, and finalist status in the ModPortrait competitions for the second consecutive year. Her artwork has been exhibited internationally, including at the Sotheby's New York (USA), the Museu Europeu d'Art Modern, and the Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona in Spain. In 2025, two of her drawings were selected for the Lunar Codex, a global cultural archive to be preserved on the Moon. Her graphite drawing “Savion” is part of the permanent collection of the Reading Public Museum.
Ricki Klages
A distinguished American painter, educator, and former Head of the Department of Art at the University of Wyoming, where she has taught since 1995. Her vibrant, expressive oil paintings draw from diverse environments, landscapes, and figurative elements, often incorporating symbolic and atmospheric influences from places she has lived or traveled (including Italy). Represented by William Havu Gallery in Denver, she has exhibited nationally and internationally, earning awards and grants for her bold use of color and devoted exploration of place and emotion—bringing a seasoned, educational perspective to judging.
Rubén Fernández Pereira
Spanish hyperrealist draftsman celebrated for his stunning technical precision in charcoal and graphite portraits. His drawings capture intricate details of form, gesture, emotion, and texture with extraordinary mastery, conveying profound human presence through exacting, lifelike rendering that defines contemporary hyperrealism. He has earned major recognition, including the Purchase Award in the 18th International ARC Salon Competition for his charcoal drawing "Fragments and Soil" (now part of the ARC Collection), as well as finalist status in the same competition for "Lookout," alongside honors in competitions like Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, BoldBrush, and ModPortrait. His work exemplifies the pinnacle of technical excellence in representational art.
Curator
Kumiko S. McKee
3 Square Art Co-Owner/Gallery Director