CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism
3rd International Juried Exhibition
Deadline for Submission has been EXTENDED to Monday, April 20 at Midnight
Final Deadline: April 20, 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
Awards will be judged in person. All finalist works must be delivered or shipped to 3 Square Art – Fine Art Gallery no later than June 12, 2026. Only works physically exhibited in the gallery will be considered for awards.
Submit Your Entry!
Submit your entry to CaRt26 | Contemporary Art in Realism. The EXTENDED Deadline for submission is April 20, 2026 Midnight.
View Submission Instructions
View Submission Agreement
CaRt26 Jurors
View Information on Jurying Process
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 the submitting artist’s 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 see detailed instructions on the Call for Entry page.
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”
Entry Fees
$65 for the first 3 artworks
$15 for each additional artwork (up to a maximum of 5 total per artist)
All fees support our $3,500 in cash awards, juror honoraria, and gallery operations. Entry fees are non-refundable.
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, Acrylic, Watercolor, Graphite, Charcoal, Pastel, Sculpture, Printmaking, etc.)
Dimensions (include BOTH artwork size and framed size for framed artwork)
***Submitted dimensions (including frame) must be accurate. Works that differ significantly from submitted size may require relocation or may not be included in the exhibition.
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.
Deadline Extended!!
Deadline for Submission: April 13, 2026 (Midnight)
Final Deadline: April 20, 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), and Textile. No digital art, photography, AI-generated elements, painting over photography, 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
Awards
3SA GOLD AWARD: $2000 + Award Certification
3SA SILVER AWARD: $1000 + Award Certification
3SA BRONZE AWARD: $500 + Award Certification
Honorable Mentions: Award Certificate
Finalist Benefits:
All selected finalists will be invited to exhibit and will receive the following:
Juried Exhibition
Inclusion in a professionally curated exhibition at 3 Square Art (3SA)Physical Exhibition
Display of artwork in a dedicated fine art gallery spaceOnline Exhibition
Featured presentation on the 3SA websitePromotion & Exposure
Promotion across 3SA’s website and social media platformsProfessional Recognition
Exhibition at a leading art center with presence in Northern Colorado and Miami, Florida
(a strong addition to exhibition history and CV)Artist Listing
Featured artist page on the 3SA website, including artwork and a link to the artist’s websitePress & Media
Inclusion in exhibition press releases distributed through 3SA media channels
Exhibition Details
Exhibit Date: June 19 – July 31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 19, 6-8pm
Schedule
The EXTENDED Submission Deadline is Monday, April 20, 2026 at Midnight
Notification of Acceptance Period: May 6-13, 2026
Agreement Due: May 20, 2026
Artwork Due: June 12, 2026
Artwork Drop Off Day: June 12, 2026 from 1-4pm
Shipping Artwork Due: June 12, 2026 ***you can ship any time after May 20, 2026
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - July 31, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 19, 2026 from 6-8pm
Artwork Pick Up Day: 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, 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
Co-Founder of the 3 Square Art/Gallery Director
The Winners and Finalists of the 1st and 2nd CaRt-International Competition & Exhibition
CaRt23 - Contemporary Art in Realism (Award Winners and Finalists) → 2nd Competition & Juried Exhibition
CaRt22 - Contemporary Art in Realism (Award Winners and Finalists) → 1st Competition & Juried Exhibition
