The work entered should be understood as a portrait in the broadest sense. It may be a traditional, representational work or it may be a more experimental portrait, but it must be based on the artist’s direct contact with any living individual. Self-portraits will be accepted.
Each artist may enter only one portrait, and it must have been completed after January 1, 2004.
Paintings must be two-dimensional works on supports. This includes, but is not limited to, the media of oil, tempera, or acrylic with supports of canvas, board, or metal. Paintings should be framed (strip frames are acceptable) and preferably be unglazed. Paintings should not measure more than 7 feet by 7 feet by 8 inches (including frame), nor should they weigh more than 150 pounds. The National Portrait Gallery will provide attachment hardware for paintings selected for exhibition.
Sculptures may be freestanding or wall-mounted and may be composed of any sculptural medium. This includes, but is not limited to, stone, metal, fiber, clay, wood, or resin. Sculptures should not exceed 7 feet (height) by 7 feet by 4 feet in size, nor should they weigh more than 150 pounds. The National Portrait Gallery will provide platforms, pedestals, or attachment hardware for sculpture selected for exhibition.
The first round of jurying will be done online, so DO NOT send the original artwork. Online entry is encouraged via this Web site. No more than 500 paper entries with slides will be accepted, on a first-come, first-served basis. All entry forms, images, and slides shall become the property of the Gallery and will not be returned except as herein specified.
Entries may be submitted in one of two ways:
- Online entry and image: You will need to fill out an online entry form and upload images to the competition Web site. For a painting, submit one or two JPEG images; for a sculpture, submit up to four images. EACH FILE SHOULD BE NO LARGER THAN 3 MEGABYTES. By submitting an online entry form, artist is agreeing to be notified by e-mail if he or she is chosen as a potential finalist or winner of the Portrait Competition.
- Mail-in entry and slide image: Up to 500 paper entry forms accompanied by slides of the portrait will be accepted on a first-come-first served basis. Submit one or two slides for a painting and up to four slides for a sculpture. A paper entry form must be requested via e-mail from portraitcompetition@npg.si.edu after May 15, 2005, but a higher entry fee will be charged.
For online entry with uploaded images, the fee is $25, payable by credit card. For paper entries with images submitted as slides, the fee is $35, payable by credit card, certified check, or money order. All fees are nonrefundable.
