Calling all senior artists! The Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition is now accepting submissions inspired by this year’s theme, That Summer.
Capture a memory, a feeling, or a story that still shines in your mind, and let your artwork tell us what That Summer means to you.
Download the printable Seniors Art Competition Rules Brochure and Registration Form.
Competition Categories:
Novice (one winner, one honourable mention)
This category is open to any new artists who have been making artwork for three years or less. If you have entered this competition or another in the past, you are not eligible for this award.
Hobby (one winner, one honourable mention)
This category is open to any artist who does not sell or exhibit their work commercially. If you have an exhibition history in galleries, festivals, or juried shows (excluding the Seniors Art Competition and Exhibition) or teach art professionally, you are not eligible for this category.
Open (one winner, one honourable mention)
This category is open to any artist who has exhibited their work in galleries, festivals, or juried shows, or who teaches art professionally.
Winners for each award category will be selected according to the following criteria:
- Originality and response to the theme
- The overall composition and effective use of the elements of art
- Mastery of techniques and materials
Important Dates:
Seniors art Competition and Exhibition Information Session and Tour:
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Tuesday / April 14 / 1-2 pm
Submission Drop-off:
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Tuesday / August 11 / 10 am-4 pm
Please bring your artwork, ready to hang, along with your completed form.
Exhibition: August 14 to September 24, 2026
Submission Pick-up:
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Friday / September 25 / 10 am-4 pm
Please make arrangements to pick up your artwork from the gallery.
The 2025 Winners:
Novice:
- Winner: Janina Bogusz, painting titled The Red House, Costa Rica
- Runner Up: Elizabeth Warick, painting titled A Door to the Mountains
Hobby:
- Winner: George Yates, sculpture titled The Pond
- Runner Up: Karen Moran, painting titled Leap of Faith
Open:
- Winner: Lorrie Priddle, painting titled Adventure on the River
- Runner Up: Richard Janson, painting titled Summer
Eligibility Requirements:
- We invite artists to submit one (1) original artwork relating to the theme of That Summer.
- Only artworks created in 2025 and 2026 are eligible.
- 2D and 3D entries of any medium will be accepted (up to 4’x4’x4’).
- Participants must be 55+ and hold a current membership at Oshawa Public Libraries, the Oshawa Senior Community Centres, or The Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
- Staff members of Oshawa Public Libraries, the Oshawa Senior Community Centres, or The Robert McLaughlin Gallery are not eligible.
- The RMG is responsible for demonstrating the utmost discretion regarding the presence of culturally appropriated content or potentially offensive subjects. We do not wish to censor your creative process. If you are concerned about your work’s eligibility, please email Hannah Keating at hkeating@rmg.on.ca.
