OPA - Oil Painters of America

Dedicated to the preservation of representational art

National

2026 National Exhibition & Convention

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Oil Painters of America’s 2026 Annual Exhibition & Convention

Oil Painters of America is pleased to be returning to the Steamboat Art Museum, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for our Thirty-fifth National Exhibition. The Exhibition runs May 29 through August 29, 2026, with the convention activities beginning on May 26 at the stunning Steamboat Grand Hotel. The opening reception for artists, the public and the press will be held at The Museum on Friday, May 29 from 5:30-7:30 pm, preceded by an private pre-view reception from 4:30 to 5:30. The Awards and Recognition Ceremony will begin at 8pm. OPA is again presenting a wide variety of demos, talks and activities during the convention and is pleased that a number of our sponsoring vendors will have representatives and displays.

2022 National Exhibition & Convention

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Oil Painters of America’s 2022 Annual Exhibition, Convention & Wet Paint Competition

 

Oil Painters of America’s is pleased to return to the Steamboat Art Museum “SAM” in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the Thirty-first National Exhibition and Convention. The Exhibition will take place from June 3 through August 27, 2022

Convention activities begin on Tuesday, May 31 with the very popular Wet Paint Competition, and end on Sunday, June 5. The opening reception for artists, collectors, the public and the press will be held on Friday, June 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the awards presentation taking place at 8:30 p.m.

Our goal is to assemble the finest display of representational oil paintings. The focus in the jurying process will be to select paintings that show the highest quality in draftsmanship, color, and composition, emphasizing a diversity in representational style and subject matter.

The total national awards will be approximately $100,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $25,000 Best In Show.

The awarding juror will be Master Signature member Johanna Harmon.

Artists eligible to compete are citizens – both natural born or otherwise – of the United States, Canada, or Mexico who are 2022 OPA members. Nonresident aliens who currently live in the United States, Canada, or Mexico are eligible to participate provided that they have been physically present at the address provided to OPA for eight of the last twelve months and that the residency is considered to be their permanent domicile and that they are 2022 OPA members. Nonresident aliens whose North American residency is in question will be asked to provide proof of residency including, but not limited to, employment history, references, and utility bills in the individual’s name.

The decision of the Board is final.