- Deadline
- 29 days left
- Entry fee
- $70
- Location
- Skylight Gallery, Salmagundi Club, NY
- Exhibition window
- Nov 17, 2026 → Dec 4, 2026
- Applicants notified
- Aug 26, 2026
- Size cap
- ≤ 50" max dimension
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About
Submit original realist paintings, drawings, or sculptures in traditional and contemporary media for blind jurying and potential exhibition.
Overview
The American Artists Professional League announces the 98th Grand National Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, an in-person and virtual juried show honoring the finest in realist painting, drawing, and sculpture. Blind jurying will be employed, with top-ranking finalists invited to exhibit. Entries may be submitted as 'In-Gallery' or 'Online Only.'
Key Dates
- Entries Open: Friday, May 29, 2026
- Entry Deadline: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Acceptance Notification: By Wednesday, August 26, 2026
- Hand Delivery: Sunday, November 15, 2026, 10am–12noon
- Exhibition: November 17 – December 4, 2026
- Reception: Friday, November 20, 2026, 5:30–8pm
- Pick-up: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10am–12noon
Eligibility
Open to artists at least 18 years old who live or work in the United States and territories. Work must be traditional or contemporary realist and not previously exhibited with AAPL. Work must have been completed in the last five years (after January 1, 2021).
Media & Size
- Acceptable media: oil, acrylic, water media, pastel, drawings, graphics (charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, scratchboard), sculpture, and fine art prints (woodblocks, linocuts, etchings, monotypes, engravings)
- Forbidden: giclées, photographs, digital prints, painting on photos, mechanical prints, AI and digitally derived works, functional sculpted works, and fine crafts
- Framed work may not exceed 50 inches wide
- Sculptures may not exceed 36 inches in height and no more than 40 lbs (restrictions do not apply to 'Online Only' entries)
Entry Fees
- Non-Member: $70 for 1 work, $40 each additional
- Associate Artist/Elected Artist/Signature/Fellow/Young Artist: $50 for 1 work, $25 each additional
- Board Member/Life Member: $0 — No entry fee
- Up to 25 artworks per artist may be submitted; only one may be accepted
- No refunds will be made
How to Enter
All entries are to be submitted through ShowSubmit from Friday, May 29, 2026 to Tuesday, August 11, 2026. By entering, you agree that AAPL may reproduce your work for promotional purposes.
Conditions
Work must be original using your own references; copyrighted or public domain images by others may not be incorporated. Licensed images and master copies are not allowed. All art must remain in the gallery for the entire exhibition duration. Work does not need to be for sale.
- Entry fee
- Non-Member: $70 for 1 work, $40 each additional. Associate Artist/Elected Artist/Signature/Fellow/Young Artist: $50 for 1 work, $25 each additional. Board Member/Life Member: $0 — No entry fee.
- Entries per artist
- Up to 25
- Theme
- An open juried exhibition
- Eligibility
- Open to artists at least 18 years old who live or work in the United States and territories. Work must be traditional or contemporary realist and not previously exhibited with AAPL. Work must have been completed in the last five years (after January 1, 2021).
- Audience
- Open to artists at least 18 years old who live or work in the United States and territories.
- Size & format
- Framed work may not exceed 50 inches wide. Sculptures may not exceed 36 inches in height, and no more than 40 lbs.
- Also worth noting
- Framed work may not exceed 50 inches wide. Sculptures may not exceed 36 inches in height, and no more than 40 lbs.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.