The 35th annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, presented by Oil Painters of America, launches May 29 and continues through August 29 at the Steamboat Art Museum, with convention activities beginning May 26 at the Steamboat Grand Hotel in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
More than 200 artists from across the United States, Canada and Mexico were selected to participate in this highly competitive exhibition through a rigorous jury process. Each artwork upholds the realism tradition, bringing craftsmanship, composition, color harmony and technical mastery to the exhibition.
Nikolo Balkanski, In the Silence of the Autumn Day, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 in.
“While the mission of the OPA is to promote and advance representational painting, our member artists work in a wide variety of styles and traditions. You will see paintings that are very loose and impressionistic, while other paintings may be very detailed and trompe l’oeil,” says Kurt Anderson, executive director of Oil Painters of America. “Some artists come out of the plein air movement, some are academically trained and some began their careers as illustrators. So, our exhibitions always have a huge variety of paintings, both in terms of style and subject.”
Craig Tennant, Autumn Passage, oil on board, 32 x 32 in.
Mark Boedges, recognized for his expressive landscapes and painterly realism, is this year’s awards judge, presenting approximately $100,000 in cash and merchandise prizes, including the $25,000 Gold Medal Award.
In addition to the artwork, the OPA convention will feature demonstrations, the Wet Paint Competition, educational lectures and more. For a full schedule of events, visit the OPA’s website. —
Oil Painters of America’s 35th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
May 29-August 29, 2026
Steamboat Art Museum
801 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487,
(815) 356-5987, www.oilpaintersofamerica.com
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