The judging process has not been easy this year with the massive increased use of AI art. Our stance on AI art is simple – we stand with the artists, and believe their rights and work should be protected, not used by AI art apps without their express permission and compensation.
As per the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Entry Criteria: Art created using AI image generators of any kind will not be accepted. Whether entirely made by AI, or partly made by AI image generators – this work is not eligible to enter.
We are very grateful to this years Jury Panel and particularly our esteemed digital artist juror Karla Ortiz who is currently campaigning for artists rights in regards to AI art generation, and has considerable expertise in this regard.
We are thrilled to now share the 25 Digital Art Award Finalists of this year’s Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize below. As always the quality and diversity of entries has been exceptional! We have received digital artworks created in a variety of software and hardware including: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fresco, Sketchbook, Wacom Intuos Pro, Compound Light Microscope, Autodesk, Samsung Tablet, Canon Camera, Affinity Photo, Cinema 4D, After Effect, Arnold, Clip Studio Paint, Medibang Paint, CaptureOne, Procreate, Huion Kamvas Tablet, Lenovo Ideapad, Ibis Paint, iMac, Lightroom, iPad, iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Sketchpad, MacBook Pro, Wacom One, Nikon Camera, Notebook MacBook, SAI, Scanner, Photomosh, Intros Pro, XP Pen, Zbrush, Mac Studio, Prisma, SNote, Wacom Cintiq, Rebelle, Substance Painter, and Blender.
The Prizes
Digital Art Award
The Digital Art Award 1st prize winner will receive:
- $3,000 USD cash generously donated by Platinum sponsors.
- USD$375 cash, plus a US$375 gift card to use at GelaSkins.com, and the opportunity to have a collection with the brand, all generously donated by GelaSkins. GelaSkins create artist-designed premium cases and skins, supporting independent artists since 2005.
- Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2), generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
- Rebelle 7 Pro, plus US$60 worth of additional Paper, Canvases and Other Art Surfaces, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
- A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
- A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
- The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
- Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
- 3 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social platforms).
- Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
- Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
- A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
2nd prize winner will receive:
- $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
- Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2)generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
- Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
- A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
- The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
- Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
- Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine 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 year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
3rd prize winner will receive:
- $500 USD cash, generously donated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
- Deco Pro (Gen2) XLW generously donated by XPPen. XPPen is a globally notable brand celebrating digital art innovation, providing digital drawing products, content and services to encourage artists to pursue their dreams and authentic self-expression.
- Rebelle 7 Pro, generously donated by Escape Motions. Rebelle is the award-winning, hyper-realistic painting software with paint pigments colour mixing, oil thickness, watercolour diffusion and NanoPixel technology, which convincingly mimics the way natural media interact with the canvas and itself.
- A 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
- The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
- Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
- Exclusive in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize and Beautiful Bizarre Magazine websites + shared across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine 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 year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
The Winners in each Award category and the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner will be invited to participate in ‘Paracosmic Escape’ exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, United States later this year, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists! ‘Paracosmic Escape’ is an international group exhibition Curated by: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, with Art Direction/Theme Conceptualization by: Musonium Gallery.
‘Paracosmic Escape’ explores themes of retrospection, introspection, and complex relationships with the real world, where internal gateways offer a place of sanctuary to heal from and provide explanation to the effects of reality. ~ Keeley Gerard (Art Director of Musonium Gallery)
From the 150 Finalists across all Award categories the Jury Panel will select the Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner.
The Musonium Grand Prize Award Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize will receive:
- $8,500 USD cash, generously donated by Palladium sponsor Musonium Gallery, Palm Springs’ premier art gallery with a clear focus on exhibiting and promoting compelling artworks from exceptional contemporary artists. Musonium exists as an institution within the art world’s traditional art sectors, where innovation and new rising talent constantly influence the ever evolving art scene.
- $1,500 USD cash, donated by our Platinum sponsors RAYMAR, 33PA, and Yasha Young Projects.
- The opportunity to work with Musonium Gallery to plan and produce a solo exhibition, which will be published in a special editorial in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
- A 24-month license to Clip Studio Paint EX, generously donated by Celsys. Clip Studio Paint is the digital artist’s app for drawing and painting anything from character and concept art to fine art illustration, and even professional animation. All of the powerful features are available on all major platforms to explore at home or on the go.
- A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
- The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, in San Francisco, USA, alongside 70+ of the world’s best contemporary representational artists.
- A bespoke box of paints and varnishes generously designed and manufactured by Dartecor, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2024.
- Exposure to a successful commercial gallery’s collector base with the opportunity to sell their work.
- 10 page in-depth interview editorial published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine December 2024 issue.
- Winning artwork printed in the December 2024 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 across Beautiful Bizarre Magazine social media.
- Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months. The go-to platform for artists, curators and collectors to discover exceptional artists and explore their work.
- 12 month social media advertising package (Beautiful Bizarre Magazine: 1 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
- A year’s worth of inspiration – a print subscription to Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award
The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will be selected by popular vote from the 150 Finalists. The Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $2,000 USD cash, generously donated by Catherine K. Gyllerstrom, Collector, Art Consultant, Owner & Art Director of BearWolf Books; a Deco Pro (Gen2) MW generously donated by XPPen, and a 12-month license to Clip Studio Paint PRO, generously donated by Celsys.
Voting will open on 23 August [AEDT, Australian Eastern Daylight Time]. To ensure you don’t miss your chance to vote, please join our email mailing list here.
Additionally, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom People’s Choice Award Winner will enjoy a year’s worth of social media advertising through the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to ensure they are able to connect with the right audience, raise their profile, and of course to grow their social media following. They will also enjoy a Profile listing [including artwork gallery] on the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory for 12 months, plus a 12 month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine print subscription, and an in-depth interview published on the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize websites, giving readers an insight into their vision and practice!
In addition, each sponsor will choose one outstanding work from their award category to receive an Honourable Mention. Stay tuned to learn more!
The RAYMAR Traditional Art Award Finalists will be announced later this week.
So without further ado we are proud to announce the Digital Art Award Finalists of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize…
Digital Art Award Finalists
2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
“Embrace” (Wacom Cintiq tablet/Adobe Photoshop)
“As Above, So Below” (Adobe Photoshop)
“Last consolation” (Xp pen 16 tablette / Photoshop)
“Epilogue of A Tragedy” (Photoshop)
“Catfish” (Procreate)
“Light & Dark in Equal Parts” (Photoshop)
“Sacrifice to the Ladies of the Wood” (Adobe Photoshop)
“SOUL” (Zbrush, Maya, Redshift, Photoshop, Lightroom)
“Daily Communion” (Apple Pencil and iPad Pro)
“Nocturnal Ritual” (Photoshop)
“Alma desnuda (naked soul)” (iMac / Wacom Intuos pro / Photoshop)
“The Bee’s Knees” (Created in DAZ Studio and Blender. Rendered with Cycles)
“Divisadero” (Photoshop)
“Shadows of Tomorrow” (Adobe Photoshop, Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium)
“Ibeji – Twins of Duality” (Dell Canvas)
“Toxic Society Leaves Toxic Scars” (Adobe Photoshop)
“The Visit” (PC – Cinema 4D, Redshift, Daz, Marvelous Designer, Substance Painter)
“Avian Rider” (Photoshop, sketchbook)
“Chasing Ghosts” (Wacom, Photoshop)
“Eternal Emotions: The Cycles of Human Fragility” (iPad Pro / Procreate)
“Megan (Flower Portrait)” (Canon EOS 5D, natural light, Photoshop CC)
“Grasp” (iPad / Procreate)
“Dragon Surgery” (Windows PC using Maya and photoshop)
“Inversion” (Photoshop)
“The Idylls” (Graphite on Graphic Natural White paper, Adobe Photoshop)
The 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
is proudly sponsored by
PALLADIUM SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
ACADEMIC PARTNERS
