Academic Artists Association
Exhibition artwork

Academic Artists Association

76th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism

New Hartford Artisans Guild, CT

October 1 – 31, 2026

Deadline is August 10th.
Find Open Calls

Opens for entry May 11th.

Venue

New Hartford Artisans Guild
37 Greenwoods Road,
New Hartford, CT 06057

860-712-1414

Hours
Wednesday – Saturday, 1–5pm

Awards

Over $5,000 in Awards.

Judge of Awards

Wende Caporale-Greene
Wende Caporale-Greene has gained a national reputation for her work through the Pastel Society of America, in which she has earned the designation “Master Pastelist”. She has won numerous prestigious awards, including the Art Spirit Foundation Gold Medal from the Hudson Valley Art Association. She has also been included in exhibitions of Allied Artists, Audubon Artists, the Portrait Society of America, Art Students League and the Salmagundi Club, where she has garnered awards for her pastel paintings, oil paintings and sculpture.

Ms. Caporale-Greene has been teaching portraiture since 1994. Since 2006, she has served on the board of the Artists’ Fellowship, Inc., a non-profit organization based in New York City that provides financial assistance to professional visual artists and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement. Ms. Caporale-Greene is also on the boards of the Hudson Valley Art Association and the Portrait Society of America, where she serves as treasurer.

In 2019, Ms. Caporale-Greene and her late husband, Daniel E. Greene, NA were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Figurative Art Convention and Expo (FACE) in Williamsburg, Virginia. Her paintings in pastel and oil have been exhibited at numerous museums from New England to Virginia and Ohio. In 2010, Ms. Caporale-Greene was one of ten figurative artists invited to be included in the Inspiring Figures exhibition organized by the Portrait Society of America, held at the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, please see wendecaporale.com.

Entry Fees

  • Members*: $30 for 1 artwork, $10 for 1 additional artwork.

    *If 2026 dues were not received by May 31, 2026, you must pay the non-member fee.
  • Non-Members: $55 for 1 artwork, $10 for 1 additional artwork.
Entry fees will be collected as part of the online submission process and may be paid by credit card. Member dues must be paid separately and in advance.

Please see academicartistsassociation.org for more information.

Eligibility & Media Requirements

  • Open to all living U.S. artists.
  • Any original representational art in the categories of Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors, Graphics, Pastels and Sculpture will be considered.

    NOTE: Casein and Egg Tempera will be judged with Acrylics.
  • Submissions must have been completed within the past five (5) year period.
  • Submissions must be the artist’s original composition.
  • No photographs, giclées, digital prints, or artwork done in a class or under an instructor’s guidance are allowed.
  • Absolutely no AI assisted or digitally created artwork!
Your entry constitutes your permission to reproduce your artwork in our catalog and PR materials.

Framed Work Requirements

  • Framed work must not exceed 40 inches in width including frame - strictly enforced.
  • All work must be framed/prepared to professional standards and wired for hanging. No saw-tooth hangers allowed.
  • Works on paper should be framed under glass or acrylic (Plexiglas).

Sculpture Requirements

  • Weight limit is 75 pounds.
  • Sculpture must be fully assembled.
  • Two views must be submitted for each entry, with complete description including size, weight and medium.
A limited number of sculpture stands will be available for use. Artists are encouraged to supply their own stand, if possible.

Shipped Work

A $30 handling fee (check payable to New Hartford Artisans Guild) and return address label must be included. NHAG will make return shipping arrangements and invoice you.

Ship your accepted entry to:
New Hartford Artisans Guild
37 Greenwoods Road
New Hartford CT 06057

Shipped work Must be received by Friday, September 18th.

For questions related to shipping only: 860-712-1414. Otherwise, see “More Information” below.
  • There is a 75 pound limit, including crate, for any shipped work.
  • Plexiglas is recommended for shipped artwork behind glass.
  • Pack your art well in a reusable carton. Submitting artist will be responsible for any additional costs if packing material and container are not adequate for return shipping.
  • Any insurance desired by the artist from the time of shipping to the time returned should be purchased by the artist from his/her own insurance company.

Artwork Removal

Art pickup:
Wednesday, November 4th though Saturday, November 7th.
  • All entries must be removed from New Hartford Artisan’s Guild no later than Saturday, November 7th, 2026.
  • Artwork not removed is subject to a storage fee of $10 per day.
  • Artwork not picked up after 60 days will become the property of Academic Artists Association. Shipped work will be returned as soon after the end of the show as possible.

Liability

Neither the Academic Artists Association, nor its agents, will be responsible for loss or damage while artwork is on display, in storage, or in transit. All reasonable care will be taken, but Academic Artists Association accepts no liability whatsoever, in any form, for damage resulting from the entry, acceptance or rejection of artwork, or from any other matter connected with the Exhibition. Submission to this Exhibition signifies acceptance of these terms.

Sales

A 20% commission will be retained on all sales. If work is listed “Not For Sale” (N.F.S.), value must be given.

More Information

For questions about the 2026 Academic Artists Association Exhibition, please contact:

Become a Member

Please see AcademicArtistsAssociation.org for more information.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on August 24, 2026.

If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.

Image and Filename Specifications

  • File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
  • Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
  • Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
  • Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
  • File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
  • File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.

Additional Entry Information

  • You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
  • After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (August 10, 2026.)
  • Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
  • Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact ([email protected]) or Steve Hamlin ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, AAA, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.

Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.