Only days before their respective deadlines, I learned of two national art competitions: the 2027 ArtFields Artists' Competition and the Catholic Art Institute's 2026 Sacred Art Prize.
As it happened, I had two paintings that seemed well suited to their respective competitions. Whether coincidence or providence, I was grateful for the opportunity to submit them.
What We Mend, an oil painting depicting a father and his young son, was submitted to ArtFields. The painting considers the significance of seemingly ordinary moments and the ways we are shaped by the example of others.
Behold, I Make All Things New, a monumental painting of the risen Christ commissioned for St. Jude Mission Chapel, was entered in the Sacred Art Prize.
These are two very different paintings, made for very different reasons. Neither was created with a competition in mind, and I hadn't anticipated entering either of them.
The Sacred Art Prize winners are scheduled to be announced on November 20, 2026. ArtFields is expected to announce its selected artists on December 9, 2026, with awards determined later.
Whatever the outcome, I'm thankful for the opportunity to have these works considered.
