West Michigan Art Competition 2026

The 40th Annual Lowell Arts West Michigan Art Competition highlights outstanding artwork by Michigan artists. In honor of the 40th anniversary of this exhibition, artwork will be accepted from an expanded 42-county region of Michigan. Artwork in any visual art media can be submitted by artists 18 years and older who reside in one of the eligible West Michigan counties. Artists may submit one piece for consideration by the juror. Cash awards totaling $3,750 will be presented, including six awards of $500 each, five honorable mention awards of $100 each, and a ceramics award of $250 sponsored by the West Michigan Potters Guild.

Only original works completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited at Lowell Arts are eligible. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted. 2-Dimensional entries may be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction, including the width of the frame. 3-Dimensional entries must fit through a standard door frame and be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction. The entry fee is $40, with a discounted fee of $30 for Lowell Arts Members and students over 18 with a college ID. All entries must be submitted digitally through the CaFÉ website by January 5, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.

The exhibition runs from January 31 to March 28, 2026. Artists will be notified of acceptance on January 13, 2026 via email. Accepted artwork must be hand-delivered on January 22-24 or shipped to arrive by January 23. Lowell Arts requires a 30% commission on all artwork sold during the exhibition. The juror is Cathy VanVoorhis, who holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan and teaches at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design.