The Future Generation
A juried competition for emerging artists 18-25 years old
The Portrait Society of America is pleased to announce a Call for Entries for our seventh annual The Future Generation Competition. This competition was created to acknowledge the work of talented, emerging artists, who are 18 to 25 years old. Early recognition in art competitions can have a great impact on a young artist’s career, as it did for John Singer Sargent, who at the age of twenty-three, won Honorable Mention at the Paris Salon for a portrait he painted of his teacher, Carolus-Duran.
Sixth Annual - First Place - Olivia Arts
Donato Sambucco, 25.6x21.7", oil on canvas
Entry Opens: June 16, 2026
Entry Deadline: August 14, 2026 by 11:59 pm EST
Announcement of Winners: September 10, 2026
Entry Fee: Entry fee is $30 (for up to three online entries)
Judging Criteria:
A panel of three judges will review each submission and base their selections on technical merit, artistic technique, composition, expertise with the medium, and the overall impact of the work.
Entry Guidelines:
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Artists must be 18-25 years old.
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Submitted artwork should feature the human figure (portrait or figurative).
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The competition is open to artists working in a variety of traditional art media, including but not limited to oil, acrylic, watercolor, egg tempera, pastel, charcoal, sculpture, stone, clay, plaster and metal.
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Artwork must be original, meaning that the work must be from the hand of a single artist and if created in a classroom or workshop MUST be without specific directions of an instructor.
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Photography, electronically created, computer-generated art, or art created under supervision of a teacher is ineligible.
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Compositions based on imagery created using AI, published material or other artists’ work are not considered original and are not eligible.
Sixth Annual - Second Place - Yash Sudam Waman
Morning, 28x65", resin
Sixth Annual - Third Place - Kathryn Dennison
Noor, 9x12", graphite on paper
Awards:
The top four Future Generation winners will receive cash and prizes, as well as worldwide recognition in International Artist magazine, The Art of the Portrait quarterly journal and on the Portrait Society’s website and social media platforms. First Place will receive a medal award presented at the annual The Art of the Portrait conference, May 6-9, 2027, in Washington, DC.
First Place - $1200 cash award, Edward Jonas Memorial Medal, and complimentary tuition to The Art of the Portrait conference
Second Place - $800 cash award and a John Singer Sargent replica palette
Third Place - $400 cash award and a one-year Portrait Society membership
Fourth Place - $200, Educational Video selection of choice