Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition

The Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition, the 29th biennial event, is a prestigious platform for showcasing excellence in Black artistry. Artists compete across categories such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and mixed media; category winners receive recognition and awards, and their works become part of the museum's permanent collection. This tradition not only preserves but also celebrates Black artists' creative achievements and contributions to culture for generations to come.

About the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition

In 1976, the African American Museum initiated its first annual competition for southwest Black artists. The purpose of the Competition and Exhibition stemmed from the Museum’s need to build a distinguished art collection and to provide Black artists a venue to display their work. After several years of annuals, the competition became a biennial. In 1999, the African American Museum’s Board of Trustees named the Biennial Southwest Black Art Competition and Exhibition the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition for Professor Simms’ outstanding contribution to art and art education. 

The competition awards $1000.00 to one artist in each of the following categories: painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, printmaking and photography. One work is chosen from the category winners as the Best in Show artist. This artist also wins the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in the two years following the competition. The Best in Show artist agrees to donate a piece of their work from the show to the museum’s permanent collection.  

Previous winners include: Charley Palmer (AL), Sedrick Huckaby (TX), Jeremy Biggers (TX), Florence Staats (NJ), Asia Youngs-Bailey (TX),  Lee Ransaw (AR). and Leamon Green (TX), 

Submission Requirements

• For each artwork, provide the artist’s name, title of work, completion date, medium, dimensions, and a unique entry number. Number entries sequentially: 1, 2, 3, etc.
• Submit images of each artwork in JPEG format only. Images embedded in PDFs will not be accepted.
• For sculpture entries, submit 1–4 images showing the work from different perspectives.
• All images must be 300 dpi, with a maximum file size of 5 MB per image.
• Include an artist statement and current biographical information.

Important Dates

• Entry deadline: November 20, 2026
• Artist selection notifications: November 23–27, 2026
• Accepted artwork delivery deadline: January 17, 2027

Withdrawal Policy

Once accepted artwork has been received by the museum, it may not be withdrawn from the exhibition.

• Open to Black artists residing in the United States.
• All submitted artworks must be original works created by the submitting artist.
• AI-generated art and photography will not be accepted.