Juried Shows
Small Works National Show
Southwest Artists was founded at the end of World War II to help heal the wounds of war. Today we are still faced with challenges, but our National competitions are continuing to flourish and sales of works have increased. The shows will continue to be held at our Mena Arkansas Art Gallery. Located in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains and National Forest, in the Arts District at the foot of Rich Mountain and the start of the Talimena National Scenic Byway, the area is a Plein Air painter and photographer’s paradise. Our goal remains to assemble paintings that represent the best 2-dimensional art in North America.
VIEW CURRENT AND PREVIOUS SHOW ENTRIES HERE.
Art of the Heartland National Show
"Old Piazza" by John P Lasater IV
Our goal for The Art of the Heartland show is to assemble the finest display of representational paintings made in America that display the best of American Art. The focus in the jury process will be to select paintings with the highest quality in workmanship, color, value, composition, style and diversity of subject matter and style.
VIEW Current & PREVIOUS SHOW ENTRIES HERE.
Other Competitions and Exhibitions
Ouachita Expressions
Ouachita Expressions has been a premier gallery judged show for local competition for over twenty five years. Accepting all mediums, including but not limited to works on canvas, works on paper, open photography, 3-dimensional art, ceramics, etc. The show is open to artists from Arkansas and the surrounding areas.
Find the 2026 Rules and Entry form here
View Previous Show Entries Here
Photography Show
Young Artists Show
This show will feature young artists ages 5 through 17 from Polk County. Having a venue to show the work of school-age artists is an important way to encourage young people in Mena and the many surrounding communities to be creative.
Come to see the up and coming Artists of the Future!
Folk and Fiber Arts Show (2026, rebranding as From Forge to Fiber)
Folk & Fiber Arts show is rebranding in 2026 as From Forge to Fiber. All the previous themes and arts under a new name.
What is FOLK ART? What is FIBER ART? For the purposes of this show, here are some guidelines.
FOLK Art Is marked by such attributes as highly decorative design, bright bold colors, flattened perspective, and strong forms in simple arrangements. Unlike more sophisticated art, folk art tends to make use of natural substances like wood, straw, clay and so on. It may include basket weaving, doll-making, enameling, furniture-making, wood-turning, pottery, leatherwork, metalwork, knife-making, mosaic art, jewelry-making, toy-making, papier-mâché, etc. Painting may also be in the form of decorative embellishment on other objects, such as textiles, glass, or wood. Our definition of folk art for this show is broad and inclusive.
FIBER Art may include crochet, knitting, embroidery, felt-making, lace-making, macramé, carpet-weaving, tapestry and quilts, etc. Free-standing sculptures made of textiles are also acceptable for this show.
We encourage craftspeople working in blacksmithing and wood to participate.
Other handcrafts, such as wood working and blacksmithing, metalsmithing, and so on, will also be included.
Click here for 2026 From Forge to Fiber Exhibit Rules and entry form
