A photo of an artist painting.

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The Chelsea International Fine Art Competition, sponsored by Agora Gallery, is one of the most prestigious art contests in the world. It is open to visual artists in every field, including drawing, mixed media, and photography.

Participants will have their work reviewed by a panel of world-renowned art critics. Selected winners will be offered a wide range of awards, prizes, and opportunities geared towards promoting their work and enhancing their careers.

To apply, artists must submit a non-refundable $45 entry fee by the posted deadline. All submissions must be in digital format and meet the following specifications:

  • All entries must be JPG format.
  • Each image must be at least 72 dpi and 200 KB.
  • Each image cannot exceed 5MB and should be smaller than 7500 x 7500 pixels.
  • The shortest side of the image must be at least 338 pixels.

Artists can include up to five images with each submission.

In order to keep the competition fair and unbiased, Agora Gallery asks that contestants do not include artist statements, résumés, and/or biographies. Winners will be contacted at a later date to provide this information ahead of the competition exhibition.

Aside from having their work displayed at Agora Gallery’s annual competition exhibition, selected participants will also have the opportunity to win cash prizes, receive an honorable mention in next year’s competition, be featured in ArtisSpectrum magazine, and gain one year of exposure through ARTmine.com.

Ed Moret, winner of the 2013 Chelsea International Fine Art Competition, says the contest made a huge impact on his life and career.

“Winning the competition allowed me to feel more confident in my work and increased my exposure in the art world. I have nothing but praise for the competition staff and the staff at Agora Gallery. It was the best experience I’ve ever had in any gallery. I would love to enter again and have recommended the competition to many artists.”