CaRt26
3rd International Juried Exhibition
Deadline for Submission is April 13, 2026 Midnight
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
$3500 in cash awards
Submit Your Entry!
Submit your entry to CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism. The Deadline for submission is April 13, 2026.
View Submission Instructions
View Submission Agreement
CaRt26 Jurors
View Information on Jurying Process
Artwork shown in image (top to bottom): Kazuhiro Yamada “Towards The Light”, Rubén Fernández Pereira “Veins and Ropes”, Kumiko S. McKee “Constance En Fourrure”, Ricki Klages “Autumn”
Submission Instructions
1) Select the number of images you would like to submit
2) Press the “Submit Entry Fee” button and you will see a form to enter your contact information and pay the entry fee.
3) AFTER completing payment for the entry fee, you will need to EMAIL your images with information to submissions@3squareart.com. Please note the following formats:
✅ Please include Artwork Information for each image including:
Title
Medium (For example: Oil, Aclylic, Watercolor, Graphite, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Fiber Art, Digital Art, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, and etc.)
Dimensions (include BOTH artwork size AND framed size for framed artwork)
Year Created
✅ Image File Naming: Name your image files in this format => FirstLast_Title.jpg. Please do not include any other information in the file name.
✅ Image Size: Images should be less than 5MB each with the longest edge ideally 1800 pixels or more and not less than 1600 pixels
✅ File Format: Save your images in .jpg format
4) You will receive confirmation of your entry by email once we receive your images. If you have any questions at all or need assistance with your submission, please feel free to call us at 970-388-1969 or email us at submissions@3squareart.com.
Details
Exhibit Date: June 19 – July 31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 19, 6-8pm
Deadline for Submission: Monday, April 13, 2026 Midnight
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.
Each artist may enter up to 5 artworks.
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). No copies of other artists' works, paintings/drawings from others' photos, or published material. If using reference photographs, they must be taken by the artist.
Artwork previously exhibited at 3 Square Art Gallery is ineligible.
All entry fees are non-refundable.
Please review the SUBMISSION AGREEMENT before submitting.
Awards & Benefits
3SA GOLD AWARD: $2000 + Award Certification
3SA SILVER AWARD: $1000 + Award Certification
3SA BRONZE AWARD: $500 + Award Certification
Honorable Mentions: 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
Schedule
Submission Deadline : Monday, April 13, 2026 at Midnight
Notification of Acceptance Period: April 29 - May 6, 2026
Agreement Due: May 14, 2026
Artwork Due: On or before June 12, 2026
Artwork Drop Off Day: Friday, June 12, 2026 from 1-4pm
Opening Reception: Friday, June 19, 2026 from 6-8pm
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - July 31, 2026
Artwork Pick Up Day: Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 1-4pm
Artwork Return Shipping Period: August 1-8, 2026
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.
Kumiko S. McKee
A Japanese-American contemporary realism artist specializing in portrait drawings and conceptual figurative paintings in graphite and oil. Her work delves into quiet emotional depth, inner stillness, and the subtle layers of human identity, rendering subjects with sensitivity, restraint, and masterful realism. Born and raised in Japan, she holds a BFA from the University of Wyoming and has been recognized in competitions like the ARC Salon and the International Biennial Portrait Competition. Her portraits transcend mere likeness to evoke introspection and presence.
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
A 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, elevating realism to a level of meticulous lifelikeness. Known for his ability to convey profound human presence through exacting rendering, his work exemplifies the technical excellence and depth that define contemporary hyperrealism.
Curator
Kumiko S. McKee
Co-Owner, 3 Square Art