At the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society’s Best of America International Juried Exhibition,artists hold animated conversations with one another and collectors, recounting their painting journeys, inspirations and current bodies of work. The environment is welcoming but the featured artists from across the world are also competing for a bounty of awards and prizes.
Jason Baily, The Sun’s Last Kiss, oil on linen, 30 x 36 in.
The 36th annual exhibition will take place this September at Ballard’s Fine Art Gallery in picturesque Sheridan, Wyoming, where a top selection of juried works chosen for this longstanding tradition of excellence will be on display.
“This exhibition features 75 paintings from around the U.S. and Canada, and as far reaching as the Czech Republic. The selected paintings are the top 10 percent of all the artwork submitted, and truly represents the finest work of our members,” says NOAPS president Patricia Tribastone. “Our award judges, Cheng Lian, NOAPS Master Artist, and Benjamin Walter, will spend an entire day carefully selecting those paintings that stand out above the others based on not only the fundamentals of art, but those paintings that go beyond.”
Emi Shigeno, Equestrian Chapel, oil on panel, 20 x 16 in.
The show offers artists the chance to win one of 33 awards, totaling over $35,000, and an opportunity to be discovered by collectors.
“Over the last five to eight years the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society has continued to grow, almost doubling the number of members. We have helped art collectors become aware of some extraordinary artists who may have otherwise not been known nationwide,” says Tribastone. “Our shows are now hosted by some of the top retail art galleries in the country, including the gallery for our current exhibition, Ballard’s Fine Art Gallery in Sheridan, Wyoming.”
Chris Thomas, The Gathering, oil, 13 x 15 in.
In the days leading up to the show's grand opening on September 4, special programming has been planned to help collectors and visitors better connect with, and understand, the art on display. The events include a plein air paint out and competition on September 2 and 3; a guided tour of the Brinton Museum on September 2; and a talk to discuss the paintings in the exhibit at the gallery on September 3 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
“The gallery talk is an interactive tour of the artwork, with an emphasis on aspects of art that may not be readily apparent to the casual observer,” Tribastone explains. “These opening [events] are a chance for collectors to meet some of the artists and find out a bit about the art that they admire.”
Alan Larkin, Paper Wreath, oil, 29 x 33 in.
On September 4, the awards presentation will precede the official opening reception, which takes place at Ballard's Fine Art from 4 to 7 p.m. NOAPS' Best of America International Juried Exhibition will remain on view through September 26.
To view the exhibition online, and for a detailed schedule of events, visit www.noaps.org. —
National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society
The Best of America International Juried Exhibition
September 1-26, 2026
Ballard’s Fine Art Gallery
23 S. Main Street, Sheridan, WY 82801
www.noaps.org
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