best of america 2026
about the event
Celebrating its 36th “Best of America” International Juried Exhibition, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) invites oil and acrylic painters from all across North America and International Artists to apply to our exhibit honoring the Best in oil and acrylic painting. NOAPS has been showcasing the talents of oil and acrylic painters since 1991.
Opening & Awards Reception, September 4, 2026 at Ballards Fine Art Gallery
AWARDS: Best of show $5,000, $35,000 cash and sponsor awards
Exhibition dates: September 1-26, 2026
Application Dates: April 15-July 2, 2026
Notification Date: July 15, 2026
artist eligibility
All NOAPS members: 18 years of age or older residing in the United States, Canada and
Mexico. Other International artists may apply but please take into consideration shipping and custom fees since this is a gallery show.
· The “Best of America” is a juried competition open only to members of NOAPS.
· The annual membership is $62 and can be paid through the Membership Link at www.NOAPS.org.
entry process
All entries will be submitted via Show Submit (www.showsubmit.com). Show Submit provides a comprehensive support menu. NOAPS is also available to help with procedural problems. Email: Contact@NOAPS.org for assistance.
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Digital files should be saved in universal .jpeg format. Please see the Show Submit Support page for digital file instructions.
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Art work must be original two dimensional with mediums limited to oil and acrylic paints
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Completed in the last three (3) years (2024 and newer)
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Not previously accepted in any other NOAPS Exhibit (including the Best of America Small Works Exhibition, the Best of America National Exhibition, both Fall and Spring International Online and the Associate Online Exhibition).
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Maximum size of the art excluding frame shall not exceed 1200 square inches (Example: 30 x 40 in= 1200 square inches). No Exceptions.
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NOAPS is dedicated to exhibiting excellent works of fine art which promote the artist’s artistic ability, vision and creativity within the traditional art forms of oil and acrylic painting. In this respect: All artwork should be original and created from conception to completion by the artist’s own hand in Oil and/or Acrylic only. Artists are permitted to use their own photos as reference materials in the creation of their artwork. No mixed media, painted giclee prints, or any other type of digital or photographic reproductions in conjunction with the Oil & Acrylic qualify. No artwork copied from other artists work or published photos, or created in an instructional setting are eligible.
**NEW**
No use of Artificial Intelligence, either in the conception or development of the painting is permitted. NOAPS has the ability to reverse search your image to determine the authenticity of your image. Should your image found to be referenced from AI, other artists or photographers images, your entry will be disqualified. Should your painting be selected for an exhibition and later discovered to be from a source other that the artist’s own reference, you will be disqualified from all NOAPS exhibition for a period of 2 years. If your painting has been accepted into an exhibition and has won an award, and it is discovered that you used reference materials other than your own original material, your award will be revoked. You will be required to certify that your work is from your original reference material before your submission is processed.
membership
The annual NOAPS membership of $62 is required. If you are not currently a member, pay the membership fee through the membership link at www.noaps.org/members .
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The annual membership is valid from January 1st to December 31st of each year.
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To verify if you are a current 2026 NOAPS Member, please check our Members Directory Page. www.noaps.org/members
fees
The fee to enter is $35 for the first image and $10 for each additional image UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 5 IMAGES.
· Example: maximum of five (5) entries= $75. Payment may be made by Pay Pal or Credit Card.
· Entry fees are not refundable.
awards judge panel
Cheng Lian
Cheng Lian resides in North of Houston, Texas, and graduated from China Academy of Fine Art (known as Zhejiang Academy of Fine Art).
He is a Master Signature Artist and board member of National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Signature Artist of Oil Painters of America. Cheng has been invited to be a judge for many art competitions, and give demos and workshops for many art leagues. His art paintings widely collected publicly and privately all over the world.
Over the years Cheng has received many awards from varieties of competitions and been invited giving workshop and demo, here list of few:
• Best Painting of by Signature/Master Artist, NOAPS BOAS 2025
• Portrait demo at NOAPS Best of America 34th Annual Exhibition 2024
• Award of merit, NOAPS Best of America Small Works International Exhibition 2024
• Award of Excellence, OPA Western Region Exhibition 2023
• Grand judge of Art of the Pastel 2023, Pastel Society of Southeast Texas
• Best Figure/Portrait Award, NOAPS 32nd Best of America National Exhibition 2022
• Invited as judge in CISD art competition 2021
• Bronze Medal Award, OPA Juried Salon Show 2021
• BoldBrush Oct 2021 Finalist
• Award of Excellence, OPA West Region Exhibition 2019
• Portrait Workshop, Edmonton, Canada 2017
• Top 10 Honor Award winner, International Portrait Competition 2013, Portrait Society of
America
Cheng Lian's website: www.chenglian.us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChengLian.Artist/
Benjamin Walter
“My liberal arts education informs my painting—both disciplines ideally engage both the heart and mind, sparking the imagination and opening up new realms of possibility.”
Benjamin Walter (b. 1991) is a landscape artist in Jackson Hole. He started drawing as soon as he could hold a crayon and discovered landscape painting during a summer plein air class at the age of 11. Mentored by a painter in Philadelphia from the ages of 11-18, he learned the fundamentals of classical art. After receiving a masters degree from the University of Oxford in Classical Languages and Literature, Benjamin moved to Jackson, Wyoming in 2015. Since then he has gained recognition for his landscape art. Benjamin credits his current art trajectory to the natural beauty and high caliber art environment of Jackson Hole. He is grateful to his supportive art mentors, family, friends, and galleries.
Benjamin captures the stark beauty of the Western landscape with a harmonious palette and careful composition. "As I continue to learn the craft of painting, I continue to search for the sense of wonder that inspired me to paint in the first place." Painting en plein air and in the studio, Benjamin captures the light and atmosphere of the landscape. He seeks to convey both the majesty and calm felt when experiencing the grandeur of creation.
selection process
Each entry is reviewed and scored by an independent jury panel. The Jurying panel will consist of a minimum of 5 NOAPS Master Artists or Signature Members. The panel selects paintings for the exhibit based on the quality and individual mastery of the medium. IMPORTANT: Jurors in the panel make selections based on the image entered (make sure the image depicts a true representation of the painting). Jurors score the image only and do not see any information about the artist.
noaps “BEST OF AMERICA” awards
Awards include: Best of show $5000, $35,000 cash and sponsor awards
Signature and Master Artist Guild Qualifying Update
both Best of America National shows count for Signature Status
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6 points total over 5 years are needed to qualify for Signature Status
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Acceptance into the "Best of America National Juried Exhibition" will count for 1 point per year
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Acceptance into the "Best of America Small Works National Juried Exhibition" will count for 1 point
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First, Second and Third Place awards in the Associate Member Online Exhibition will count for 1 point.
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A maximum of 3 points attainable per year
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Once Signature Status is achieved, the awarded artist may use the initials NOAPS on original works of art and in their correspondence. This honor is awarded for life, unless forfeited by nonpayment of annual dues or resignation.
Master Artist Membership: Master Qualification begins AFTER the exhibit in which Signature status is attained. Master Artist Membership is awarded to active members, whose dues are current.
· Once a Signature Artist receives three (3) TOP Master Qualifier Awards within a five (5) year period in the “Best of America International Juried Exhibition” or the “Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibition, they are qualified to make a submission to the Masters Jury Committee headed up by NOAPS Master Artist, Cheng Lian · Email chenglian@gmail.com – title the email “Masters Submission”
· Please submit: 10 original artwork images, biography and any published articles or related achievements
· The TOP Qualifier Awards include Best of show, 1st, 2nd, and all “Best of” category awards.
· With 2 Gallery Exhibitions per year, there will be 10 opportunities in a 5 year period to qualify for Master. Please note that the Online International Awards and the Associate Online Awards do not count toward Master Status.
· Upon approval of the Masters Jury Submission Committee and Masters designation is granted, the awarded artist may use the initials NOAPSM on original works of art and in their correspondence. This honor is awarded for life, unless forfeited by nonpayment of annual dues or resignation.
selection notification
Artists selected for the Exhibition will be notified by email from Show Submit on July 15, 2026. An up to date email address in your Show Submit account is essential for notification.
art accepted for the exhibit
Upon receipt of the accepted paintings at the exhibit location, NOAPS and the Gallery retain the right to refuse to display and/or allow award judging due to: technical inaccuracy, misrepresentation, inadequate framing, or damage from improper packaging.
· FRAMING: Gallery quality wood frames only
· NOAPS strongly recommends Strong Boxes from Airfloat Systems, Uline or Masterpak. (Airfloat is a NOAPS Sponsor and they provide a 20% discount to NOAPS members, use code ‘NOAPS’). All art received and displayed will not be returned until after the exhibit has closed. The gallery has 30 days after the close of the show to return unsold artwork.
· IMPORTANT: Once accepted, failure to send the accepted artwork to the exhibit will result on a two (2) year disqualification period for the artist.
· Once accepted into the exhibition, the artwork is consigned to the gallery. If the artwork is sold after acceptance but before shipping it to the exhibit, commission should be paid to the art gallery. Please email contact@noaps.org if you pre-sell your painting. · Selected paintings will be showcased on www.NOAPS.org, and in NOAPS Social Media.
· By entering, entrants are consenting to have a reproduction of their work used for promotion of the NOAPS Exhibits. You are confirming the work entered is your own and copyrighted images incorporated in your work have not been used.
sales
All entries must be for sale. Paintings of all price ranges are accepted. Entrants price their work and should closely represent the established market value of the artist’s work. The price entered on the Show Submit application form will be the price for the duration of the exhibit.
liability
Every reasonable care will be exercised with all artwork. NOAPS, The Gallery, and any other organization or individual connected with the exhibition will not be responsible for loss or damage of artwork while in transit. By entering this exhibit, the applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of the prospectus.
commission
The artist will receive 55% of the selling price, with the remainder split at 45% to the hosting gallery.
shipping
Once your art is accepted into the Exhibition, please follow the shipping instructions carefully. Full shipping instructions will be provided with acceptance letters. All shipping charges to and from the Gallery are the responsibility of the artist. We recommend insuring your work before shipping.
Include in the shipping container:
1. Return shipping label - choose Fedex or UPS
2. HOW TO Create a return shipping label - example - If using UPS - Must open an account with them, then use their online program to "Create a return" - Enter all the information and print the label but do not schedule a pickup. Enclose return label in envelope for the gallery. There are no charges until the shipping company driver picks up the parcel and scans the shipping label. If your shipper will not provide a return shipping label, you
should create a return shipping label online and email it to the gallery. Please email the gallery if you will be emailing the return shipping label. ***Artwork will not be displayed if Return Label is not provided.
3. $25 check made payable to the Ballards Fine Art Gallery for unpacking/repacking fees.
4. Please advise gallery if hand-delivering and make an appointment for August 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, or 22, 2026.
5. NOAPS Artwork label attached to back of painting (included in the acceptance letter from Show Submit).
6. IMPORTANT: Shipping from OUTSIDE the USA must be shipped FREE DOMICILE or they will not be accepted. International artists please check all shipping restrictions and custom regulations before entering this exhibit. All Duties and Taxes must be paid by the artist
7. Ship to address:
Ballard’s Fine Art Gallery
23 South Main Street
Sheridan, WY 82801
calendar
Application Dates: April 15-July 2, 2026
Notification Date: July 15, 2026
Exhibit Grand Opening & Award Reception: September 4, 2026
Exhibit Closing: September 26, 2026
Your participation and support of the NATIONAL OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTERS’ SOCIETY is greatly appreciated. GOOD LUCK!!
questions
Please email to contact@NOAPS.org
The National Oil & Acrylic Painter’s Society
SEE OUR PREVIOUS “BEST OF AMERICA” EXHIBITS