Join us to celebrate the artists featured in its 2026 Juried Art Competition during an Awards Reception on Saturday, June 27, from 5:00 to 6:30pm in the Merkle and Price Galleries. Nationally recognized artist and curator Teresa Booth Brown, who served as juror for this year’s competition, will present awards totaling $2,000 during the closing reception for the exhibit.
Currently on exhibition through June 27, the biennial Juried Art Competition showcases works selected by Brown from submissions received from artists across the country. The exhibition features 48 artists representing Arkansas and 11 additional states, highlighting a diverse collection of contemporary artwork and offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of artistic voices and perspectives.
Among the artists represented are El Dorado artists Taebriunna Bartee, Gay Bechtelheimer, Cherie Bright, Brandon Dearing, Angel Leveritt, Brandi Parker, Annika Schenk, and Ann Trimble. Also included are Erin Johnston of Norphlet, Michael Preble of Camden, Kevin Seymore of Felsenthal, Tom Richard of Monticello, and Marion Dunn of Hampton.
Additional Arkansas artist represented in the exhibition include Rashawn Penister and Jonathan Wright of Pine Bluff, Cheryl Rogers of Hot Springs, James Volkert of Conway, Jennifer Baugh of Fayetteville, Mandy Mooneyham of Paragould, as well as Gary Cawood, Susan Chambers, John Goodwin, Rene Hein, Lisa Krannichfeld, Tze Sheung Lam, Donna Pinckley, Aneesah Rahmaan, Judith Redditt, Dominique Simmons, Steve Spencer, and Elizabeth Weber of Little Rock.
Artists from across the county further broaden the scope of the exhibition, creating a collection that reflects both regional talent and a national artistic presence. Artist include Lemon Burnside and Emily Ezell of Ruston, La.; Mia Simmons, Slidell, La.; Blair Augillard, New Orleans, La.; Donna Wolfe, Livingston, Texas; John Thomasson, Lubbock, Texas; Sharon Harper, Springfield, Mo.; Chunlei Qian, Prospect, Ky.; Hannah Davis, Saint Petersburg, Fla.; Jenie Gao, Madison, Wis./Vancouver British Columbia; Tim Magenta, Philadelphia, Pa.; Carol Foerster, Gettysburg, Pa.; Ann Marie Fitzsimmons, Freehold, N.J.; Daniele Lorio, Rockville, Md.; Fernando Carpaneda, Freeport, N.Y.; Jaden La Rocque, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Dave Rollins, Seattle, Wash.
Brown, who has been a teaching artist since 1985 and most recently served with the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado, selected the exhibition and will travel to El Dorado to present awards and meet with participating artists and patrons during the reception.
The 2026 Juried Art Competition is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For workshop registration or more information, visit saac-arts.org or call the South Arkansas Arts Center at 870-862-5474. SAAC is located at 110 East 5th Street in El Dorado.
