The 2026 Willet Art Prize - $10,000 Prize Pool

National art competition for US artists to create original work inspired by the annual theme 'Quest for Gold' — celebrating athletic excellence and global unity. Open to painters, sculptors, digital artists, photographers, glass artisans, and mixed media artists. $10,000 prize pool: $7,000 first place, $2,000 second place, $1,000 third place. Selection combines a community vote in the initial phase with a final panel of judges including stained glass masters, university professors, museum curators, gallery directors, design experts, and elite athletes/Olympians. Judges are particularly interested in work with strong silhouettes and strategic use of light that could be adapted into architectural art glass.