We unveil the new Emerging Artist Award: Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2023

Since its inception in 2018, we have worked tirelessly to grow the international Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize which celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts. Our goal? To source bigger and better prizes and even more recognition for entrants and winners. Why? Because we believe that YOU deserve it!

Starting from a prize pool of only USD$1,000 in 2018, with the support of an array of exemplary sponsors we have built a significant prize pool each year, now reaching over USD$50,000. We have also added the People’s Choice Award to further promote our Finalists and give the global arts community a voice. Additionally, we have expanded the number of Honourable Mentions from three to seven, providing additional recognition to exceptional entries. However, we still felt more was needed. In our goal to support emerging and mid-career artists, we realized a new award was needed to provide equal opportunity for emerging artists to truly shine. Therefore, it is with great honour that we unveil:

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award

The Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award exists in addition to the: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, iCanvas Digital Art Award, INPRNT Photography Award, and the Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award. Artists working across mediums are welcome to enter more than one award category.

As the Founders of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine we felt it was important for us personally to support this new Award. As this year’s Emerging Artist Award sponsors, we believe that emerging artists deserve validation, recognition, and exposure to grow and develop their practice. This new Award allows emerging artists to have their own platform rather than competing with more experienced artists – thus leveling the playing field.

Danijela Krha Purssey & Richard Purssey [Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Co-Founders]

Who counts as an “Emerging Artist”?

If you are an emerging artist that works in a representational style, in any 2 or 3 dimensional traditional medium, digital medium or photographic medium, you are eligible to enter the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award.

For the purpose of this award, to be classified as an “Emerging Artist” you must be in the early stages of pursuing a career as a professional artist [within the first 5 years]. Practicing students are also welcome to enter. Additionally, you must not haven won any Awards or Prizes previously. You must not be represented by a commercial gallery, nor had any solo exhibitions at a commercial gallery.

Prizes

As well as global exposure and recognition of their practice to the global arts community, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award will currently receive:

1st Prize Winner

• US$1,000 cash, generously donated by the Founders of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Danijela Krha Purssey and Richard Purssey. Beautiful Bizarre Magazine is a leading publication for contemporary art enthusiasts, featuring in-depth interviews and profiles of leading and emerging visual and wearable artists from around the world. Each issue offers informative, inspiring, and thought-provoking content, perfect for artists, artisan fashion designers, collectors, curators, galleries, and anyone looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the contemporary art world.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery, in New York, USA, alongside 80+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
• One free “Audit ONLY” spot onto any SmArt School class, running at the time that the winner is announced. This opportunity allows a student to log in and watch the relevant classes for the semester (September – December 2023). Note: this “Audit ONLY” spot allows the student to view all classes without participating with questions or feedback.
• Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
• 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms).
• Winning artwork printed in the December 2023 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, as part of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize editorial.
• Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared on social media.
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

2nd Prize Winner

• 6 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms).
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

3rd Prize Winner

• 4 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms).
• Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
• A coupon to enjoy Linktree PRO for free for 12 months.
• A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and donating towards the Emerging Artist Award 2023 prize pool, please email Deputy Editor Natalia Joruk here.

For a full a list of prizes, including cash, products, advertising and services that will help your practice grow, please visit the Prizes page.

Giving the practices of representational artists validation and visibility, particularly in the commercial gallery and museum sector where it is still hard to get representation, is what the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize aims to achieve.

Danijela Krha Purssey, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Co-Founder, and Editor-in-Chief

Entry fee is US$40 to cover administrative costs. If you have any questions about the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, please don’t hesitate to contact us at artprize@beautifulbizarre.net.

The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is administered by Australian based, international contemporary art magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Entries Open: 1 February 2023

Entries Close: Midnight 17 July 2023 [Los Angeles, USA time]

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Artwork by 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Honourable Mention, Win Wallace