Neosho Arts Council is pleased to present the 31st Annual Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition and Exhibition. Works will be displayed at the Big Spring Gallery inside the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce. Artists are eligible to enter in either the "Emerging" division or "Professional" division.
The "Emerging" division is for artists who are students or who are not represented by galleries or have not held professional exhibitions.
The "Professional" division is open to all artists.
Emerging artists who win First Place or Best of Show previously in this competition will be considered Professional Division entrants thereafter. All entries must be original works by the artist, not previously entered in this competition or shown at the Big Spring Gallery, and completed within the past three years.
Open to artists 18 years of age and older | Emerging or Professional
Eligible Media: Open to original 2D works including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, pastels, charcoal, ink, etc.
Media Not Eligible Include: photography, digital works, AI generated works, giclees, high relief works, or 3D works.
The "Emerging" division is for artists who are students or who are not represented by galleries or have not held professional exhibitions.
The "Professional" division is open to all artists.
Emerging artists who win First Place or Best of Show previously in this competition will be considered Professional Division entrants thereafter. All entries must be original works by the artist, not previously entered in this competition or shown at the Big Spring Gallery, and completed within the past three years.
Open to artists 18 years of age and older | Emerging or Professional
Eligible Media: Open to original 2D works including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, pastels, charcoal, ink, etc.
Media Not Eligible Include: photography, digital works, AI generated works, giclees, high relief works, or 3D works.
Entry Fees: Up to two entries per artist will be accepted. Enter online at www.neoshoarts.net. Entry fee is non-refundable.
There will be NO at the door sign ups!
Last Day to enter is August 26, 2026 at midnight!
Drop Off/Pick Up: All entries must be dropped off Thursday August 27 from 4:00 to 6:00pm or Friday August 28 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Big Spring Gallery located at 216 West Spring Street, Neosho, MO 64850. No early drop off or late entry will be accepted. Works must stay in place the entire show (all of September and October). No early pick-ups. Staff at Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce cannot accept work.
Timetable:
Everyone is invited to attend the Awards Presentation and Critiques at the Community Room of the Neosho/Newton County Library (201 West Spring Street, Neosho, MO 64850). Afterwards the exhibition will be open to the public of all ages, so be sure to invite your patrons and friends!
Awards:
$500 Best of Show (from either Professional or Emerging division)
Professional
$250 First Place
$200 Second Place
$150 Third Place
Emerging
$150 First Place
$100 Second Place
$75 Third Place
Plus a selection of Merit Awards and the Mary Ellen Pitts Memorial Pastel Award
Requirements:
Liability: Neosho Arts Council and Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce are not responsible for loss or damage to artwork while in transit to and from the show, or while on display. The artist agrees to allow the Neosho Arts Council, at its discretion, to utilize photographs of exhibited work for publicity purposes, not for reproduction.
There will be NO at the door sign ups!
- Circle of Patrons Artist Members Registration (online only): $15.00 for one entry, $20.00 for two entries.
- Non-Members Registration Fee (online only): $20.00 for one entry, $25.00 for two entries.
Last Day to enter is August 26, 2026 at midnight!
Drop Off/Pick Up: All entries must be dropped off Thursday August 27 from 4:00 to 6:00pm or Friday August 28 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Big Spring Gallery located at 216 West Spring Street, Neosho, MO 64850. No early drop off or late entry will be accepted. Works must stay in place the entire show (all of September and October). No early pick-ups. Staff at Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce cannot accept work.
Timetable:
- August 26 - Deadline for Registration via neoshoarts.net only
- August 27 - Drop Off of Entries 4:00pm to 6:00pm
- August 28 - Drop Off of Entries 4:00pm to 6:00pm
- September 12 - Awards Presentation and Critiques at 2:00pm with public viewing after
- October 23 - Pick Up of Entries 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Everyone is invited to attend the Awards Presentation and Critiques at the Community Room of the Neosho/Newton County Library (201 West Spring Street, Neosho, MO 64850). Afterwards the exhibition will be open to the public of all ages, so be sure to invite your patrons and friends!
Awards:
$500 Best of Show (from either Professional or Emerging division)
Professional
$250 First Place
$200 Second Place
$150 Third Place
Emerging
$150 First Place
$100 Second Place
$75 Third Place
Plus a selection of Merit Awards and the Mary Ellen Pitts Memorial Pastel Award
Requirements:
- The exhibit is open to all artists 18 years of age or older, amateur and professional. All entries must be original works by the artist, not previously entered in this competition or shown at the Big Spring Gallery, and completed in the past three years.
- No Diptychs or Triptychs
- All exhibited work must be: professional-quality framed or gallery wrapped (gallery wrap canvas must have the sides painted, not gesso, with choice of 1) continuation of image, or 2) solid color.)
- All works must be dry at time of drop off.
- Work must be wired properly with hardware and ready for installation. No sawtooth hangers or clips hangers will be accepted. All framed works are strongly encouraged to use plexiglass. Plexi can be found at any local hardware store (Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc.) and most will cut to fit your frame for free if you take the frame in with you to assure correct sizing. Neosho Arts Council is not responsible for damage to art work or frames.
- Maximum size is 36 inches by 36 inches including frame. Please measure your work before arriving.
- Maximum weight for work is 15 Lbs. To reduce weight, replace glass with plexiglass.
- No works exceeding $5,000 sale price, we do actively sell works during the show.
- All work must be for sale with a 35% commission collected by the Neosho Arts Council.
- The Neosho Arts Council reserves the right to refuse an entered work because of unacceptable presentation.
- All work must be family friendly: no explicit nudity or pornography
- There is a storage fee of $5 per day for works not picked up by 6:00pm October 23.
- Any work not picked up by January 1, 2027 will become property of Neosho Arts Council.
- Works will hang the full two month duration of the exhibition in both the Big Spring Gallery and online at neoshoarts.net.
Liability: Neosho Arts Council and Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce are not responsible for loss or damage to artwork while in transit to and from the show, or while on display. The artist agrees to allow the Neosho Arts Council, at its discretion, to utilize photographs of exhibited work for publicity purposes, not for reproduction.
Meet this year's judge, Zeek Taylor
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Zeek Taylor is a recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, and In 2018, he was honored with the "Legacy Award" by the "Idle Class" magazine. His work has been displayed in the Arkansas Arts Center: three times in the Delta Exhibition, and twice in the International Toys Designed by Artists Exhibition. His paintings have hung in the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. He has received numerous "Best of Show" awards, and his art has been carried in the gift store of the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. He is currently the art director of the Bentonville branch of the First National Bank of Northwest Arkansas. A native Arkansan, Zeek resides in Eureka Springs, where he maintains a studio and continues to make art.
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