ArtPrize 2025 Returns to Grand Rapids in Less Than a Month with over 1100 Artists and over a Half a Million Dollars in Grants and Awards

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In less than a month, downtown Grand Rapids will once again become the global stage for one of the world’s largest art competitions. For 16 days, the city will be transformed by 931 entries from 1,100 artists representing 39 states and 18 countries, showcased across 155 venues ranging from museums and galleries to breweries, parks, and public plazas.

Since its inception in 2009, ArtPrize has awarded $6.9 million directly to artists and inspired more than 4.1 million public votes, cementing its reputation as one of the world’s most accessible and impactful art competitions.

“ArtPrize has awarded close to $600,000 directly to artists each year since 2023, making it one of the largest annual direct-to-artist funding bodies anywhere,” said Catlin Whitington, ArtPrize Executive Director. “What makes it truly unique is the balance of grants, juried competition, and public selection. And this year’s jurors bring expertise from leading institutions including the Eiteljorg Museum and the Speed Museum.”

Spotlight Art Experiences at ArtPrize 2025

ArtPrize invites visitors to explore the work of incredible artists throughout downtown Grand Rapids—each installation offering a chance to discover new voices and perspectives in unexpected places.

Arborialis: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
This year’s headliner, Arborialis: An ArtPrize Experience, is a 9,000-square-foot walk-through luminarium created by the UK’s Architects of Air. With glowing domes, radiant passageways, and a soundscape featuring Michael Morris’s Song of Danu, Arborialis promises to be one of the most talked-about immersive installations of the year. (Ticketed event)

Art of the Olympians
Art of the Olympians, an international program highlighting the artistic achievements of Olympian and Paralympian artists from around the world. This year’s presentation at the Downtown Market will mark the first official exhibition of the newly recognized “Olympism Art Genre.” At the center of the exhibition is LA Rising, a large-scale, 10-panel charcoal drawing created by Art of the Olympians Executive Director Roald Bradstock (aka the “Olympic Picasso”) in response to the devastating fires in Los Angeles earlier this year. The work is interactive, inviting 2,028 participants to color in one of the 2,028 rings that make up the piece. The rings directly reference the upcoming LA 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. During ArtPrize, Grand Rapids will become the first site where this symbolic artist message of resilience, creativity, and community is being shared. Though a two-dimensional artwork, LA Rising will be completed live during the festival, evolving into a vibrant, colorful message of solidarity.

BioPhilia Gallery
The BioPhilia Gallery explores the intersection of art, science, and nature. This multi-sensory exhibition highlights works that connect audiences to the natural world—blending biology, technology, and creative expression to spark dialogue about our relationship with the environment.

For the full event schedule, artist information, and more, visit artprize.org or follow @ArtPrize on social media.

About ArtPrize
ArtPrize is an annual, open, independently organized, international art competition that celebrates creative expression, bringing together art enthusiasts, artists, and the community. Since its inception, ArtPrize has aimed to showcase the transformative power of art and foster a culture of creativity. ArtPrize is a 501(c)3, and continues to provide access to the visual arts through the support of our sponsors, donors, and underwriters. www.artprize.org

SOURCE ArtPrize