Loading
Submit an online application with a portfolio of contemporary art work for a one-time $2,500 award in exchange for an original artwork to join Material Works' permanent collection.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →The Material Works Art Award 2026 is a $2,500 one-time award that functions as a purchase-prize model. The selected work is acquired for the Material Works permanent collection in Chicago in exchange for the cash award. The award recognizes artistic excellence and promotes the selected artist's career advancement through increased visibility and exposure.
Open to visual artists working worldwide who are 18 years or older. Eligible mediums include painting, photography, installation, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, experimental, and conceptual art. Not accepted: music, writing/poetry, culinary, film, and time-based media. Limit of one submission per applicant.
$40.00 one-time application review fee per submission, paid via payment/PayPal link at the end of the online application form.
Submit an online application at https://materialworksart.com/main
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.