45th International Watermedia Exhibition

The 45th Annual International Watermedia Exhibition (IWE) is Houston's premier watermedia event showcasing the finest watermedia artists from around the world. The juried, month-long exhibit takes place in March at WAS-H in the heart of the Museum District. Participating artists have the opportunity to win generous awards from sponsors, with more than $10,000 USD in prizes available. Top awards include: 1st Place - $2,500; 2nd Place - $1,500; and 3rd Place - $1,250. Additional legacy awards include the Odette Rubin Memorial ($1,000), Jack Bowen Award ($500), Margaret Bock Award ($500), and Board of Directors Award ($500). Up to 10 Merit Awards of $150 each are also available.

Entry submission opens October 8, 2021, via CallforEntry.org with a deadline of January 7, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Entry fee is $40 for the first piece, with an additional $15 media fee per entry. Artists must submit 1-3 digital images. The exhibition is open to international artists. The juror is Mark E Mehaffey, an internationally recognized watermedia artist and signature member of multiple professional organizations.

Accepted artists must ship original artwork ready to hang to Houston by March 5, 2022. A handling fee of $25 applies for hand-delivered paintings and $50 for shipped paintings. The gallery show opens March 6, 2022, and runs through March 31, 2022. An online exhibition will continue through December 31, 2022. Artists who have been selected for participation in three or more IWE exhibitions may earn Signature or Elite Signature status. WAS-H reserves the right to photograph works for the catalog and publicity purposes. For gallery sales, WAS-H receives a 25% donation, and artists are responsible for return shipping costs.