39th Annual Northern National Art Competition

The 39th annual Northern National Art Competition will be held at the Nicolet College Art Gallery in Rhinelander, WI from June 18 - July 31. Over $8,500 will be awarded in prizes, including three $1,000 Awards of Excellence. Open to U.S. artists 18+, $35 entry fee for one or two pieces. No theme; artwork must be 2D and hangable. This year’s judge is Darrell Taylor, Curator and Assistant Director at the Waterloo Center for the Arts in IA, where he promotes programs, manages collections, and oversees events. From 2003–2023, he served as Gallery Director at the University of Northern Iowa, securing major grants and leading renovations. An accomplished artist with B.F.A., M.A., and M.F.A. degrees in intermedia art from the University of Iowa, his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including collaborations with universities in Germany and Russia.
 

*Presented by Nicolet College and Northern Arts Council
 

The 39th Northern National Art Competition will be held in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, from June 18 - July 31, 2026, at the Nicolet College Art Gallery. Began in 1987, this show is a cooperative venture between Nicolet College Arts & Enrichment and the Northern Arts Council (NAC). The Northern National Art Competition strives to showcase a cross section of contemporary art in a variety of two-dimensional mediums. Each year, hundreds of artists nationwide submit work to be considered for inclusion in this exhibition, and the art is always both visually exciting and intellectually stimulating. 

More than $8,500 in prize money will be awarded, including three $1,000 Awards of Excellence. Awards are based upon the actual artwork. 

• This renowned national juried competition is open to all US resident artists 18 years or older.
• Each artist may submit images of recent, original, artwork in any medium, including photography, fiber, and mixed media.
• All artwork MUST be 2D and hangable. (Maximum Depth 6")
• There is no theme.
• The $35 entry fee entitles the artist to submit one or two pieces for consideration. (one image per artwork). Images must accurately represent the work entered.
• Must be original work; no reproductions of artwork will be accepted.
• Artists selected as finalists will have their work exhibited (and available for purchase if desired) at the Nicolet College Art Gallery until Friday, July 31.
• Entries may be hand delivered on Friday, May 29.
• Shipped work must arrive at the Nicolet College Art Gallery by Friday, May 22. Must include pre-paid return shipping label. Additional shipping details will be sent with your acceptance notice.
• Selected art must remain for the entire exhibition and awards will be distributed after the close of the show. All proceeds of sales are assigned to the artist.
• All artists are responsible for ensuring their subject matter does not include any copyright infringements. The artist waives Nicolet College and NAC of all legal responsibilities if an artist is challenged by another party for copyright infringement.
• All artists must disclose if Artificial Intelligence has been used in any way for the creation of the artwork.
• By entering work in this exhibition, the artist gives Nicolet College and NAC the right to use images for digital and print promotional purposes.
• Artists Statements entered in the CaFE' system will be displayed in conjunction with this exhibit alongside the artwork.
• Any artwork submitted and awarded in previous Northern National competitions is ineligible.
• Single panel artwork is expected. Diptych will be considered and nothing with more than 3 panels as a Triptych.
• No maximum size for LxW. We kindly ask if you do have a piece with a dimension larger than 6' to reach out to us in advance of entry.

Artists, their friends, and families are encouraged to join us at our opening reception on Thursday, June 18. The opening reception is a remarkable evening in celebration of the artists whose work has been chosen for the exhibition. The public is also able to purchase tickets to this event, which includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Attendees get the first peek at one of the premiere art shows in Northern Wisconsin and then join this year's judge as they share their remarks on the curation of this prestigious national show. The intimate judge’s talk proves as wonderful as the art itself and leaves you with a deeper appreciation of the show. 

The Northern National Art Competition prides itself on providing an accomplished judge and this year is no exception.  The exhibit becomes a reflection of the lens with which the judge has placed their mark.

This year we welcome Darrell Taylor, a Curator and Assistant Director at the Waterloo Center for the Arts in Waterloo, IA. His responsibilities include promoting the Center and its programming; acquiring, storing, and exhibiting collections; selecting exhibition themes and designs; organizing tours, lectures, workshops, and performances; art installation and fundraising; and conferring with the Executive Director. He is also the manager of the fall Holiday Arts Festival and for the artists of the spring Chroma63 Midwest Art & Sound event.

From 2003 to 2023 he was the Gallery Director and Overseer of the Permanent Art Collection at the University of Northern Iowa. He served as the Gallery's interim director two years before that appointment and taught as an adjunct instructor in art foundations. In 2005, he wrote a successful Conservation Assessment Program grant for the UNI Permanent Art Collection. In 2010, with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, he supervised the renovation of the UNI Permanent Art Collection storage facility. And in 2015 and 2018, he wrote two successful IMLS Museums for America Collection Stewardship project grants to identify art objects for conservation and treatment.

Taylor is also an artist with B.F.A., M.A., and M.F.A. degrees in intermedia art from the University of Iowa. His performances, photographs, drawings, and collages have been presented nationally and internationally. Previous projects include Orte des Begehrens Project (1998) and Rites of Identity Project (1999), both of which were collaborations between the University of Iowa and the University of Dortmund in Germany. In 2003 and 2007, he participated in project collaborations between UNI and Herzen State University in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Tickets for the opening reception on 6/18 cost $35 and will be available 5/1 online HERE. Exhibiting artists receive one complimentary ticket code to the reception with their acceptance notice.

CALENDAR 2026

• Thursday, March 13: Registration deadline
• Thursday, April 16: Acceptance notification
• Friday, May 22: All shipped work due
• Friday, May 29: Hand delivery 9am-2pm
• Thursday, June 18: Opening Reception and Awards Announced
• Friday, July 31: Show closes
• Tuesday, August 3: Pick up hand delivered work 9am-2pm
• Wednesday, August 4: Repacking, Shipped work will be returned this week

Open to all artists 18 years and older who are US residents.

Each artist may submit images of recent, original, 2D hangable artwork in any medium including photography, fiber, and mixed media. There is no theme. Images must accurately represent the work entered. The Gallery reserves the right to delete from the exhibition any work that does not conform to the entry specifications or that involves possible copyright infringement. Any use of Artificial Intelligence in creation of entered artwork must be disclosed.