LIFE changing experiences for artists

Ready to be seen?
Step into the spotlight.

20 Categories.
10 artists per category.
1 night to make it count.

October 11, 2025 | 5PM–10PM
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden

This is not just a competition — it’s your moment.

If you’re an artist, a maker, or a creative entrepreneur looking to build your brand, grow your audience, and claim your space in the broader Los Angeles creative scene, you already know what’s missing: visibility.

This event is about fixing that.

We’ve curated every part of this experience to give you the kind of exposure that actually matters:

  • High-level, respected judges who understand your work and recognize brilliance when they see it.

  • A hand-selected audience of art lovers, industry professionals, media reps, and everyday people looking to support and buy from creators like you.

  • Media outreach, press coverage, and social features to get your work noticed — not just on event night, but long after.

  • Livestream and post-event footage that showcases you in your element — content you can use again and again.

This is the only event in Los Angeles bringing together 200 artists across 20 disciplines — all under one roof, all live, all in motion.

Why compete?

You’ve worked too hard to stay invisible.

You deserve to be seen not just for your final product, but for your process — the nuance, the skill, the brilliance that goes into what you make. That’s what this competition honors.

Yes, it’s vulnerable. Yes, it’s bold. But it’s also exhilarating. And more importantly, it’s effective.

If you’re trying to build your reputation in Los Angeles, connect with new clients or collaborators, and get your work in front of people who get it — this is the place to be.
There’s no better. Period.

20 Competition Categories

10 Artists per Category

1 Winner per Category

Unlimited Exposure for All

What’s your category?

Whether you sculpt or sew, decorate cakes or design websites — there's a place here for your craft. These 20 categories represent some of the most exciting, expressive, and entrepreneurial forms of artistry out there.

Each artist will create a live, themed work during the event in front of an audience and expert judges. Think you’re ready? Let’s go.

Visual Fine Arts

Mediums of line, form, and color come alive in these classic and evolving expressions of 2D visual storytelling. Artists in this division use traditional and digital tools to deliver bold interpretations of the theme.

  • Any water-based medium is welcome. Push beyond traditional technique—make bold choices that breathe life into the canvas. Your work should reflect your unique voice and respond vividly to the theme. Final presentation must be original.

  • Use pencil, charcoal, or ink to express your vision. Whether your style is fine-lined or gestural, abstract or figurative, every stroke should carry intention. Final drawing must be original and created on-site.

  • Craft your own blocks or tools using materials found on-site. Your prints should leave a strong impression—both visually and emotionally. Think beyond paper—print on consciousness. Final piece must be created and printed on-site.

  • Create from scratch and embrace the limitless potential of digital tools. Surprise us with movement, emotion, or interaction. Let your imagination—and the medium—stretch expectations. Final work must be original.

  • Use typography, layout, and imagery to communicate a clear, emotional message. Create a poster, campaign, or visual concept that merges theme with form and function. Final design must be original and created during the event.

Dimensional & Spatial Arts

This division focuses on form, structure, and physical presence. Artists manipulate materials in space to tell stories from every angle—3D expressions that invite viewers to walk around, look closer, and feel more.

  • Use any material—clay, found objects, or the completely unexpected. This is a 360° challenge: your piece should be compelling from every angle. Shape your vision with space, gravity, and time as your only constraints. Final work must be original.

  • Tell a story through fragments—tiles, glass, or found materials. Let color, texture, and pattern unify into a bold visual statement. Final work must be original and assembled during the competition.

  • Transform fabric through dye, paint, or manipulation. Texture, pattern, and color should tell a tactile story rooted in the theme. Final work must be original and created—or significantly altered—during the event.

  • Sculpt, mold, or cast wax into something visually captivating. Whether functional or abstract, your piece should show creativity, craftsmanship, and a strong thematic connection. Final work must be original and assembled on-site.

  • Create a floral display that speaks to the theme beyond beauty. Structure, shape, and flow should evoke story, emotion, or place. This is more than decoration—it’s floral sculpture. Final arrangement must be original and completed on-site.

Wearable & Body Art

From garments to faces, this division transforms the human form into a canvas. Creations are wearable, expressive, and rooted in craftsmanship, storytelling, and style.

  • Design a wearable work of art using materials found on-site. The piece should make a statement—ready to walk the runway or blend into the crowd with purpose. All garments must be wearable, original, and created during the competition.

  • Craft a personal, expressive piece of wearable art using traditional or unconventional materials. Let the theme influence your choice of form, symbolism, and texture. Final piece must be original and handmade during the event.

  • Use the face as your canvas and bring three original looks to life—applied on-site and inspired by the theme. Precision, storytelling, and visual impact matter. Bring your own model. Each final look will be captured and judged via digital photos.

  • Transform your model through sculpted and applied prosthetics. Whether grounded in fantasy or realism, your work must reflect both technique and imagination. All prosthetics must be applied during the competition; small pre-sculpted elements may be approved.

Moving Image & Storytelling

This division celebrates the power of narrative through short-form digital media. Whether documentary, editorial, or conceptual, these works should provoke thought, stir emotion, and connect viewers through compelling storytelling — all within a limited frame of time.

  • For creators with large digital followings who use their platform for impact. Submit a short-form video that tells a powerful story — social, personal, political, or cultural. Your piece should be filmed and edited on-site using only the tools you bring with you. No advanced equipment needed — just vision, voice, and message. All work must be original and created during the festival.

  • For rising voices in the visual storytelling space. Whether your audience is 100 or 99K, this category is about message over metrics. Submit a short-form video that captures a moment, tells a story, or reframes the world around us. Filming and editing must take place on-site using your own device(s). Final pieces will be judged on clarity, originality, and emotional resonance — not polish or production budget.

Culinary Presentation & Edible Art

Food meets fine art in this flavorful division. Artists use ingredients as their medium—composing edible works that excite the eyes and invite the senses.

  • Treat cake as your canvas. Sculpt, frost, or paint your piece into a striking reflection of the theme. Use color, form, and technique to create a dessert that’s both beautiful and bold. Final work must be original and completed on-site.

  • Curate an edible art piece where color, texture, and placement tell a delicious story. Showcase your skill in arrangement, harmony, and storytelling—make it impossible to ignore. Final setup must be original and created on-site using food-safe practices.

Environmental & Experiential Design

This division challenges artists to create immersive experiences—whether through table settings or photographic captures—where mood, message, and detail converge.

  • Design a fully styled table that visually interprets the theme through balance, color, texture, and storytelling. From elegant to avant-garde, your layout should immerse guests in a curated experience. Final table must be original and styled on-site.

  • Use your lens to uncover what others overlook. Explore the venue with intention, capturing truth, detail, or an unexpected moment. Final images must be taken on-site and will be projected for judging. All photos must be original.

Registration details

We are currently accepting pre-registrations only.
Here’s why:

We want to give everyone a fair shot to compete — and time to plan ahead.

  • Registration Fee: $400

  • You will only be charged if you are selected to compete.

  • If funding is a concern, don’t worry — after you pre-register, we’ll send you an email with tips and resources for securing sponsorship or financial support. We believe money should never be a barrier to visibility.

Spots Will Fill Fast

Once a category is full, it’s closed — and we accept applicants on a rolling basis. Get on the pre-registration list now to be the first to know when applications officially open.

This is your moment. Don’t miss it.

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.”


- Georgia O'Keeffe