The International
The 29th annual competition for portraiture and figurative art
Rorick Grand Prize Winner & People's Choice Award 2026
Rose Frantzen IA, United States
Last Light, 44x52", oil
Rorick Grand Prize - $50,000 Cash Award!
You are invited to enter the 29th annual The International Portrait Competition, showcasing the finest in portraiture and figurative art today. The International is the world's premier portrait competition and is open to all artists– members and non-members. A variety of mediums is welcomed and encouraged. The selected finalists are required to exhibit their selected original artwork and be present at the prestigious The Art of the Portrait conference in Washington, DC - May 6-9, 2027, for final judging and awards.
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Entries: participants are eligible to submit up to three artworks for consideration.
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Design & Concept: Entries must be the artist’s own original design and concept and created independently after February 2022. Work created under instruction, painted over prints, AI generated or digitally created are ineligible.
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Copyright: Entrants are allowed to use photographic and digital images as reference (not AI) in the creative process, but it must be their own reference material or if the entrant has the permission of a source, the final artwork must vary enough from the source image to constitute a new original work of art. (If there is any question about the creative process, the jurors may ask to see source material.)
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Handcrafted: Work must be hand crafted by the artist, not copied from another source or the use of digital or photo transfer.
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Sizes: For 2D artwork, the longest side must be no longer than 60” (unframed). For 3D artwork, the size of the sculpture should be under 34” and weigh no more than 50 pounds.
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Eligibility: The competition is open to all artists, including faculty artists that are donating their time to teach at the annual conference. But Portrait Society Executive Board Members, Gold Medal Recipients and previous Grand Prize winners are ineligible.
Entry Rules
View our special discussion with the judges of the 29th Annual International Portrait Competition as they share what they look for when evaluating hundreds of entries from artists around the world. They discuss the guidelines for the competition, qualities that make a portrait stand out, common mistakes that can weaken an entry, and practical insights that can help you present your strongest work.
During this discussion, you'll learn:
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What catches the judges' attention immediately
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The artistic qualities shared by exceptional entries
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Common pitfalls artists should avoid
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How originality, design, drawing, likeness, and execution influence judging
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Tips for submitting your strongest work
Meet The International Portrait Judges
Watch the video for the opportunity to hear from next year’s judges (Louis Carr, Quang Ho & Dawn Whitelaw) about the process and gain insights that could elevate your work—and your next competition entry.
Important Dates
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Application Opens: September 30, 2026
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File Upload Deadline: February 17, 2027
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Finalist Notification: March 17, 2027
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Exhibition Dates: May 6-9, 2027
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Gala Awards Banquet: May 8, 2027
2026 1st Place Drawing
Chu Tiến Thăng Long Bien, Vietnam
Portrait of Bao Tran
16x12.5", mixed media on panel
2026 1st Place Sculpture
Kevin Chambers GA, United States
Dusk, 44x32x12", bronze
Entry Fee
The $75 Entry Fee covers up to 3 unique submissions. Enter by December 31, 2026, to receive the discounted early-entry fee of $55.
Credit cards are accepted on-line with your submission, the fee is non-refundable and must accompany your submission. Note: Sculpture entries can provide up to 3 views of the same piece.
If you are selected as a finalist you are required to be in attendance with your artwork to win a prize. Conference tuition is waived for finalists, but they must arrange and be responsible for their own travel, hotel and shipping of their original artwork.
Formatting Your Entry
Make note of these items when formatting your entry:
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Up to three (3) digital image files can be submitted
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Only digital entries will be accepted
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Images should ONLY be of the artwork. Do not include matting, frame, etc., in the image
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Save each file as a JPG
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No larger than 6 megabytes each
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Each file must be labeled in the following format: artist's last name, first initial, and letter of the entry being submitted, separated by a dash. Example: smith-j-a.jpg
2026 1st Place Painting
Grace DeVito CT, United States Dziedzictwo (Heritage), 24x30", oil
View video for helpful tips on formatting your images.
All finalists will be eligible for over $210,000 in cash and prizes. The Rorick Grand Prize features a $50,000 cash award, art material awards and a feature article in International Artist magazine. All Finalists receive a cash award in addition to a $1,000 shipping stipend, and recognition in The Art of the Portrait journal, the Portrait Society's website and social media with over 100,000 followers. In addition, Finalists receive complementary tuition to the 2028 The Art of the Portrait conference.
Awards & Recognition
Awards will be presented at the annual conference Saturday, May 8, 2027 in the following categories:
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Grand Prize: $50,000 plus art material awards
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First Place Drawing: $5,000 plus art material awards
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First Place Painting: $5,000 plus art material awards
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First Place Sculpture: $5,000 plus art material awards
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Six Placement Awards at $2,500 plus art material awards
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Ten Exceptional Merit Awards at $2,000 plus art materials awards
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Every finalist will receive a $1,000 shipping stipend
Artists selected as a finalist are required to be in attendance with your artwork to be eligible for an award. Conference tuition is complimentary for finalists; however, finalists are responsible for their own travel, hotel and shipping of their original artwork. Every finalist will receive a cash award as well as a $1,000 shipping stipend. The Portrait Society of America and the Hyatt Regency Reston are not responsible for shipping or holding fees, or for any loss or damage to artwork, regardless of cause.
Top 10 Reasons to Enter The International Portrait Competition
1. Compete for a $50,000 Grand Prize
The Rorick Grand Prize includes a $50,000 cash award and a feature in International Artist magazine.
2. Share in More Than $210,000 in Cash & Awards
Finalists are eligible for an exceptional range of cash awards, prizes, and recognition across painting, drawing, and sculpture.
3. Gain International Recognition
Put your work before an international audience of artists, collectors, educators, and art enthusiasts through one of the Portrait Society's signature programs.
4. Have Your Work Exhibited at The Art of the Portrait
Selected finalists exhibit their original artwork during the Portrait Society's annual conference, May 6–9, 2027.
5. Receive Valuable Editorial & Online Exposure
Finalists receive recognition in The Art of the Portrait journal and on the Portrait Society's website, with the Grand Prize winner receiving a feature in International Artist magazine.
6. Join an Accomplished Group of Artists
Becoming a finalist places your work alongside artists selected through a highly competitive international process. In 2026, more than 2,200 works were submitted, with just 19 selected as finalists.
7. Attend The Art of the Portrait Conference Tuition-Free
Finalists receive complimentary conference tuition, providing access to demonstrations, educational programming, and opportunities to connect with fellow artists.
8. Put Your Work in Front of Respected Artists and Jurors
Your work is evaluated as part of a rigorous selection process designed to identify outstanding contemporary portrait and figurative art.
9. Build Your Professional Credentials
Being selected as a finalist, or earning a major award, can become an important addition to your résumé, biography, website, exhibition history, and professional portfolio.
10. Your Work Deserves to Be Seen
You don't have to be a Portrait Society member to enter. The competition is open to eligible artists, making it an opportunity to take a chance on your strongest work and see where it can lead.