We unveil the new Drawing and Painting Awards: 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Entries for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize are open from 10 February – 17 July, but you may be surprised to learn that our annual Prize keeps our team busy all-year round! It takes a lot of work behind the scenes, and since its inception in 2018, we have worked tirelessly to maintain its growth. 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 $1,000 USD in 2018, with the support of an array of exemplary sponsors we have built a significant prize pool each year, now reaching over $71,000 USD.

[Drawing by Senescence, 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Emerging Artist Award 3rd Prize Winner]

We have also added the People’s Choice Award to further promote our Finalists and give the global arts community a voice. Plus we have expanded the number of Honourable Mentions from three to eight to provide additional recognition to exceptional entries.

We have now taken the exciting decision to split the previous Traditional Art Award into two individual award categories:

Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award

&

RAYMAR Painting Award

The Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award and the RAYMAR Painting Award are in addition to the Digital Art Award, Photography Award, the Catherine K. Gyllerstrom Emerging Artist Award, and the Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Awards. Artists working across mediums are welcome to enter more than one award category.

Every year we have received a high number of both painting and drawing entries – so many in fact, that we feel both of these deserve their own space to shine rather than competing under the single Traditional Art award!

[Painting by Dory Whynot, 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Honourable Mention]

Who should enter which category?

If you work in a representational style, in any traditional drawing medium including but not limited to pencils, charcoal, graphite, pastels, chalk, pen, ink, markers, conté, crayon, and mixed media, you are eligible to enter the Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award.

If you work in a representational style, in any traditional painting medium including but not limited to oil paint, acrylic paint, egg tempera, gouache, watercolour, ink, encaustic, fresco, and mixed media, you are eligible to enter the RAYMAR Painting Award.

Prizes

Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award

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, Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award will currently receive:

1st Prize Winner

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by Victoria Olt Gallery, as well as the opportunity to exhibit at the gallery in 2026 (details TBC with the gallery). Situated in Tallinn City Center in Estonia, Victoria Olt Gallery brings more lively and inspiring art to public spaces and Estonian homes, from local and international artists.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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: 1.9 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• Winning artwork published in the December 2025 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• 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

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by 3dtotal, an industry-leading art-book publisher. Renowned for creating high-quality, inspirational, and practical art books and tutorial books, 3dtotal works with some of the world’s best artists.
• The opportunity to exhibit at Victoria Olt Gallery in 2026 (details TBC with the gallery). Situated in Tallinn City Center in Estonia, Victoria Olt Gallery brings more lively and inspiring art to public spaces and Estonian homes, from local and international artists.  
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by 3dtotal, an industry-leading art-book publisher, and Haven Gallery in Northport, New York, USA.
• The opportunity to exhibit at Victoria Olt Gallery in 2026 (details TBC with the gallery). Situated in Tallinn City Center in Estonia, Victoria Olt Gallery brings more lively and inspiring art to public spaces and Estonian homes, from local and international artists.  
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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.

RAYMAR Painting Award

As well as global exposure and recognition of their practice to the global arts community, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners of the 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, RAYMAR Painting Award will receive:

1st Prize Winner

• $3,000 USD cash, generously donated by RAYMAR, creators of the finest panels! Panels are their passion. They craft their panels with the world’s finest materials to serve as the foundation for your artwork. 
• $1,500 USD worth of art photography and/or Fine Art archival print reproduction from Static Medium.
• A seven-night Artist Residency generously donated by Robert Lange Studios. This is an exceptional grant opportunity for artists seeking inspiration in the vibrant cultural and creative hub of Charleston, SC, in a dedicated artist-in-residence space housed within the renowned Robert Lange Studios fine art gallery, located in the heart of the city’s historic district. Artists will have the unique chance to immerse themselves in Charleston’s creative energy, work alongside esteemed artists, and connect with the gallery’s supportive community. The residency is designed to foster creativity, exploration, and connection, offering both solitude for focused work and engagement with the gallery’s dynamic environment. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to create, grow, and be inspired in one of the South’s most celebrated artistic spaces. **Note that there are black out dates, and travel expenses to/from Charleston, personal painting supplies, food and additional expenses are not included in the grant.
• A bespoke box of paints generously designed and manufactured by Schaal Colors, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025.
• A beautiful, specially commissioned glass art award trophy.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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: 1.9 million+ followers across all social media platforms).
• Winning artwork published in the December 2025 issue of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.
• 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

• $1,000 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• $250 USD gift voucher, generously donated by Golden Artist Colors, manufacturer of artist quality materials including colours and mediums for painting in acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolour.
• A bespoke box of paints generously designed and manufactured by Schaal Colors, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025.
• Three private 50-minute online mentoring sessions with renowned artist Edward Povey, provided and organized by Quarantine Events. Utilising Edward’s 50 years of experience as an artist as well as his background in psychology, these mentoring sessions will offer a multifaceted and holistic approach to foster further growth and experimentation, providing a learning experience far beyond standard textbook artistic mentoring. The organiser, Quarantine Events, offers unique artist quarantines and a solid support network, helping artists from around the world to shake free the shackles of what holds them back and grow with less fear and trepidation.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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

• $500 USD cash, generously donated by Rosemary Brushes, the finest quality handmade Artists’ Brushes.
• A bespoke box of paints generously designed and manufactured by Schaal Colors, created especially for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025.
• The opportunity to exhibit in the prestigious Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in Northport, NY, 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.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and donating towards the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2025 prize pool (category of your choice), 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.

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 [email protected].

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

Entries Open: 10 February 2025

Entries Close: Midnight 17 July 2025 [Los Angeles, USA time]

Artwork beside blog heading by 2022 Honourable Mention Kim Anderson

The 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is proudly sponsored by:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS
     

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

.