Best in Tonalism 2026
Online Showcase
The American Tonalist Society is hosting the biennial
online juried competition, show and sale.
Dear Artist,
Best in Tonalism 2026 is a prestigious online juried exhibition hosted by the American Tonalist Society, a leading organization dedicated to contemporary Tonalism. This important biennial competition invites artists to submit their finest work for consideration and recognition among the leading voices in contemporary tonal painting.
Selected artists will compete for three coveted awards, with winners featured in the Best in Tonalism 2026 online exhibition and promoted through ATS social media. More importantly, winners will also be invited to submit work for consideration in the 2027 ATS Live Biennial Invitational Exhibition at Ballard's Fine Art gallery, offering the opportunity to exhibit alongside today’s leading contemporary tonalist artists.
All accepted entries will be posted on the ATS website gallery, and promoted through ATS’s social media channels.
Whether established or emerging, artists are encouraged to seize this opportunity to be seen, honored, and celebrated by the American Tonalist Society.
Awards:
First Place $1500, Second Place $500, Third Place - $250
Honorable Mentions
ELIGIBILITY
Artists living in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
RULES
- Paintings must be in the style of tonalism. The tonalist movement illustrates the departure from emphasis on color, strong contrasts, bravura brushwork, and high chroma. Instead, it focuses on emotion, spirituality, feeling and mood, encompassing luscious, luminous, and evanescent atmospheric effects featuring foggy mornings, evocative moonlit nights with a minimal palette of neutral hues. Like visual poetry, tonalist paintings have a quiet statement of contemplation, mystery, and intrigue. “The purpose of the painter is simply…to awaken an emotion.” George Inness
- By submitting images to this juried opportunity, you understand and agree that accepted images may be displayed on ATS’s website, Facebook page, and other social and/or print media. Images do become part of ATS’s archives and may be used for this and future ATS promotions. Artists will retain copyright to their image(s).
- Entries can be marked NFS.
- Your acceptance signifies your commitment of the painting to the show. Once committed, the painting should be sold through the ATS. If it is sold before the online show opens, a 30% commission fee should be submitted to ATS. The painting should also not be placed in a gallery for sale until after the ATS show closes. At the end of the show, we give the artists the opportunity to extend the sale of their piece, but again, the painting will continue to be committed to ATS until the online show is taken down.
- The American Tonalist Society curates exhibitions of fine art demonstrating excellence in tonalism based on concept and execution. The decision of the judges is final. Jury fees are non-refundable.
- By entering this exhibition, you agree that you have read and will abide by all rules outlined in this prospectus
- Please submit your images of paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel, tempera or watercolor. (no photography or prints allowed). Up to two paintings per artist will be accepted into the show.
- Images must be jpg and under 4 mb. For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side @ 72 dpi. For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351
- If available for sale, please indicate retail price. The show will be promoted on social media for sales opportunities. Sales split Artist 65% ATS 35%.
- All former Signature Artists (Artists who have participated in one of the ATS live shows) sales split is Artist 80% ATS 20%
- Artists are responsible for shipping to the buyer, at the buyer’s expense. Artist will be connected with the buyer to facilitate shipping after the sale.
Charge $40 for one entry, $15 for each additional. No limit to the number of entries you wish to submit for consideration. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Entry deadline: October 1, 2026 Judging: October 5 - 15, 2026
Jury results will be posted November 1, 2026
American Tonalism evokes atmosphere, mood, spirituality, and simplicity through quiet, contemplative imagery. This juried online exhibition showcases some of the finest examples of Tonalism being created today and offers artists a distinguished platform for visibility and professional advancement.