97th Grand National Exhibition

The 97th Grand National Exhibition is open to artists who are at least 18 years old and live or work in the United States and territories. Only traditional and contemporary realist works will be considered. Artwork must have been completed in the last five years (not before January 1, 2020) and may not have been previously exhibited online or in-person with AAPL.

Acceptable media include oil, acrylic, water media, scratchboard, pastel, drawings, graphics, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, sculpture, and fine art prints including woodblocks, linocuts, etchings, monotypes, and engravings. Giclées, photographs, digital prints, painting on photos, mechanical prints, AI and digitally derived works are expressly forbidden. Functional sculpted works and fine crafts are barred from entry. 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). All entries must be original work using the artist's own references; copyrighted or public domain images by others and licensed images are not allowed.

Entry fees are $50 for AAPL members' first entry and $25 for each additional entry; non-members pay $70 for the first entry and $40 for each additional entry. There is no limit to the number of entries, though only one may be accepted. Membership is not required. All entries must be submitted through ShowSubmit from Friday, May 30, 2025 through Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Digital files should be submitted in JPEG format at 1500 pixels on the shortest dimension, 300 pixels per inch, maximum 30 MB. Sculptors may include 2 images per artwork.

Applicants may choose "Online Only" or "In-Gallery" exhibition. Finalists will be invited to show at the Salmagundi Club unless they have chosen Online Only, in which case their work will be showcased on the AAPL website. Semi-Finalists will be showcased on the AAPL website. Notification of accepted works will be sent via email no later than Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Cash awards exceeding $23,000 and two dozen merchandise awards are provided by sponsors. Awards are judged in-person; traditionally, works not hanging in the gallery are not eligible for cash awards. Three Award of Merit certificates and merchandise awards will be chosen from online exhibitors. AAPL receives 30% commission of sale prices; artists receive 70%. Hand delivery of work is November 16th, 9-11am. For questions, contact Alex Tibar at [email protected].