The Bennett Prize

06/03/2026

A studio visit with Kira Nam Greene offers a thoughtful reflection on the impact of The Bennett Prize® and the evolving conversation around realism in contemporary painting.

As a finalist in the inaugural Bennett Prize®, Kira describes the exhibition as a rare opportunity where artists' work gain broad visibility and are supported by founders who are deeply invested in their careers. She highlights one of the prize's greatest strengths: its expansive view of realism.

"There is no single definition of realism," Kira explains. "The diversity of approaches among women realist painters enriches both your own practice and your understanding of what realism can be."

She also reflects on the broader significance of The Prize, noting that by recognizing and elevating women artists, The Bennett Prize® helps address longstanding inequities in the art world and creates greater visibility for women painters.

Thank you to our partners at ARTnews for helping us share the stories and perspectives of Bennett Prize® artists with a wider audience.

05/27/2026

Thank you to Artsy for the feature and write-up on Nicole M. Santiago’s work. We’re grateful to see Nicole’s thoughtful, emotionally rich paintings shared with a wider audience and celebrated alongside her incredible body of work.

Nicole’s ability to capture atmosphere, narrative, and quiet moments of transformation continues to resonate deeply with collectors and viewers alike. We’re proud to support and share her work.

Take a look at her work titled, Transition here: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/nicole-santiago-transition-1

Available for sale from Matney Gallery, Nicole Santiago, Transition (2021), Oil on linen, 16 × 50 in

05/26/2026

Curating your work is an act of clarity and intention. Each piece you include should strengthen your overall narrative and reflect your commitment to figurative realism.

For round 5, this is your opportunity to present not just individual works, but a cohesive body of work that resonates as a unified statement. Jurors are looking for consistency, focus, and a clear artistic voice across your submission.

Stay focused as you refine your selection. Every painting should reinforce your technical ability and your artistic direction, working together to show the strength of your practice as a whole.

Submit your work by Sep. 19. To learn more, go to https://www.thebennettprize.org/news-items/curating-your-submission

Image: Jennifer R.A. Campbell (Bennett Prize® 1 finalist), Spinner©, 2023, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches.

05/22/2026

We celebrate the ateliers, art schools and mentors who shape artists at every stage of their journey. Their guidance builds more than technical skill. It fosters confidence, discipline and a way of seeing that carries into every decision in the studio.

From rigorous critiques in art school to the quiet encouragement of a mentor or the shared focus of an atelier, these experiences leave a lasting imprint. They influence how artists approach materials, develop ideas and refine their visual language over time.

The lessons learned in these spaces often stay with artists long after formal instruction ends, continuing to inform how they work, think and grow.
Honor that legacy by presenting your strongest work. Tag your favorite art school, artist mentor or atelier.

Image: Alyssa Monks (Bennett Prize® 2 juror), I’ll Back You Up©, 2018, oil on linen, 70 x 80 inches.

05/18/2026

Art can be a powerful space for reflection, healing and connection, a place where emotions that are difficult to name can take shape in color, form, sound or movement. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we acknowledge not only the challenges many face but also the role creativity can play in processing experience and supporting emotional well-being.

Making art does not require perfection or certainty. It can begin with honesty, with showing up as you are, allowing process to lead and giving yourself permission to create without judgment. In that openness, art can become both grounding and expressive, offering a way to understand what we carry and to share it in ways words sometimes cannot.

Whether your work is quiet or bold, personal or expansive, it reflects something real and that reality has value. Your voice matters and it deserves space to be seen and heard.

Share it through your submission. thebennettprize.org

Image: Deng Shiqing (Bennett Prize® 3 winner), The History of Information©, 2022, oil on linen, 60 x 48 inches.

05/14/2026

This month, we are focusing on how to curate your strongest submission for The Bennett Prize® Round 5. Selecting work is more than choosing favorites. It is about building a clear and compelling narrative that reflects your voice and vision.

We are grateful to Customs House Museum & Cultural Center for hosting Rising Voices 4 and The Cost of Life, both exhibitions demonstrate how thoughtful curation can elevate urgent, deeply personal work and bring it into meaningful dialogue with audiences.

Ask yourself what connects your pieces and what you want jurors to remember. Take the next step in your artistic journey. Refine your portfolio and prepare your submission. Entries close Sep. 19 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Learn more at www.thebennettprize.org/news-items/curating-your-submission

Image: Rei Xiao (Bennett Prize® 4 finalist), Fight them Soft©, 2025, oil on canvas, 24 x 32 inches.

05/10/2026

Today, we honor the artists who nurture creativity in every form. Whether you are balancing studio time with caregiving, returning to your practice, or working in the quiet influence of a mother figure’s legacy, your creativity carries those experiences forward.

Art is often shaped by care—by patience, resilience, and the everyday acts of making space for imagination amid responsibility. These influences don’t just support the work; they become part of its language, showing up in the way you see, create, and express.

Today is a moment to recognize those who have shaped your voice and to celebrate the ways that legacy continues through your art.
Celebrate the influences that shape your voice.

Image: Kyla Zoe Rafert (Bennett Prize® 3 finalist), Lineage©, 2021, gouache and walnut ink on paper, 6 x 5 inches.

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Sara Lee Hughes, whose narrative, figurative paintings are featured in Interwoven Stories at Verdant Gallery in Austin, on view May 2 through June 13. Her work captures moments of personal history and human connection, scenes that linger and shape how we understand ourselves and others. Each painting reflects an ongoing exploration of memory, witnessing, and the experiences that define us.

In Interwoven Stories, Hughes’ approach is presented alongside the vibrant abstract paintings and weavings of Katie Hathor-Jones. While their methods differ, both artists explore how meaning is created through visual language and how storytelling remains central to powerful art. To learn more about Interwoven Stories, go to verdantgallery.com/exhibitions/14-interwoven-stories/overview/

As you prepare your strongest submission, consider how your own work communicates story and connection. Take inspiration from artists like Hughes, who translate lived experience into compelling visual form, and return to your studio with renewed purpose.

Image: Sara Lee Hughes (Bennett Prize® 3 finalist), The Suit and The Up-Do©, 2026, oil on canvas, 54 x 42 inches.

05/06/2026

Experience the powerful work of Laura Karetzky, on view through May 17 at Ki Smith Gallery in the show BEAUTY: Tom Wolf and Friends. Her paintings appear alongside a group of artists exploring the idea of beauty through distinct materials and perspectives. Her intimately painted, realistic scenes draw viewers into deeply human moments, offering reflections on the complexities and paradoxes of everyday life. A Bennett Prize® 3 finalist, Karetzky’s work balances technical precision with emotional depth and invites sustained looking. Learn more at kismithgallery.com.

Ready to share your voice? Begin preparing your submission for Round 5 today.
Image: Laura Karetzky (Bennett Prize® 3 finalist), Franciscan Caribbean©, 2020, oil on panel, 12 x 9 inches.

04/28/2026

Ready to take your career to the next level?

The fifth round of The Bennett Prize® is now open for women-identifying artists working in figurative realism. The winner will receive $75,000 and a solo exhibition, a chance to share your vision, advance your career, and receive national recognition.

Apply and be seen. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work.

thebennettprize.org/call-for-entries/complete-rules

Image: Haley Hasler (Bennett Prize® 3 finalist), Portrait of the Artist with Fire Chief©, 2023, oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches.