2 Jul 2026

Compete 9th International Juried Exhibition: Color

3 Square Art –  Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

3 Square Art Gallery

Opportunity Description

International Deadline: July 13, 2026 – Dive into a Spectrum of Creativity at 3 Square Art in Fort Collins, Colorado! Are you ready to unleash a riot of colors? Welcome to COLOR 26, the year’s most electrifying, anticipated exhibition where color isn’t just seen—it’s experienced! Imagine walking into a gallery where every shade, hue, and tint tells a story, where art doesn’t just hang on the wall but leaps into your senses.

This September 2026, we’re not just hosting an exhibition; we’re celebrating color in all its glory. From splashes of paint, lines of colors, dabs of color, colored fabric, colored lights to digital canvases, COLOR 26 invites you to get creative and immerse yourself in an unparalleled journey of color vibrancy.

Color is the heartbeat of art. It’s where the art theory begins, with the color wheel spinning into primary and secondary colors, creating a dance of light and shadow. We pay homage to the legends like Mark Rothko, Joan Miró, and Helen Frankenthaler, whose explorations in Color Field painting revolutionized how we perceive art. Now, it’s your turn to push the boundaries even further!

COLOR 26 is your stage to showcase how color can redefine art, become a language of its own, and evoke a playground of emotions, ideas, and interpretations. Join this vibrant community, where color knows no limits, and your art could be the next to dazzle, inspire, or provoke thought. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this colorful revolution!

Let’s bridge past traditions, present innovations, and future possibilities.

Exhibit Date: September 12 – October 16, 2026.

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 COLOR! Splashes color, mashes of color, technically perfect color, artworks render with lots of color, color fields, color studies, color effects… loud and bold, quiet and soft… You get the idea =» COLOR needs to be central to the work.
  • Media: The competition welcomes all media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textiles, and digital art
  • Artworks must be have been created in the past 3 years; any artworks completed before June, 2023 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).

JURY
Juried by four contemporary masters of realism (see bio’s here):

Steve Scheuring
Denise Demby
Kumiko S. McKee
Craig McKee

AWARDS & BENEFITS
$3500 in cash awards:

  • 3SA Gold Award: $2000 + Certification
  • 3SA Silver Award: $1000 + Certification
  • 3SA Bronze Award: $500 + Certification
  • Honorable Mention Award: Certification
  • More…

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 space
  • Online Exhibition – Featured presentation on the 3SA website
  • Promotion & Exposure – Promotion across 3SA’s website and social media platforms
  • Professional 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 website
  • Press & Media – Inclusion in exhibition press releases distributed through 3SA media channels

APPLY ONLINE
Visit us for more information and easy online entry.

Notification of Acceptance Period: August 4 – 10, 2026

About:
3 Square Art’s is a fine art gallery in Northern Colorado. The beautiful space and high ceilings provide the perfect venue for varying sizes of works and installations. The gallery is focused on the “S” component of CSL (Creating, Sharing, Learning) or Sharing and will feature exhibits from national and international artists. 3 Square Art’s ongoing exhibits feature themed topics to push the boundaries and business of art as well as to have fun and connect with others.

3 Square Art
2415 Donella Ct Ste 110
Fort Collins, CO 80524
T: 970-581-9046

Opportunity Categories: + Open to Multi-Media. Opportunity Types: Compete. Opportunity Tags: Deadlines 07 July thru Aug, Open to Artists Worldwide, and Special Opportunities. Benefits: Cash or Value Awards, Exhibition - Group, Exhibition - Online, and Sales.

Opportunity expires in 10 days.

Apply for this Opportunity