57th International Exhibition
January 16-February 17, 2027
Piedmont Center for the Arts | 801 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611
Entry Deadline: September 1, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT
$15,000 Anticipated Awards
CWA Members, to enter log in to your member account here
For non-members, please use this form to enter the exhibition
The 57th International Exhibition will be held at Piedmont Center for the Arts in Piedmont, CA and is open to members and non-members from all over the world. Since 1967, CWA’s International Exhibition has showcased exceptional watermedia art from across the U.S. and beyond. Each year, an esteemed juror selects exceptional works in watermedia, celebrating artistic excellence and diversity.
In recognition of the ways artists are pushing watermedia boundaries and incorporating new innovations, we have made some revisions to our substrate and framing requirements.
Z. L. Feng, Juror of Selection
Feng is an acclaimed watercolorist and art professor known for his luminous landscapes and portraits. He was born in Shanghai and is based in Virginia. He is a signature member of AWS, NWS and Pastel Society of America. He has won more than 600 national and international awards. While experienced in most art mediums, he specializes in watercolor, often using both “tight and loose” techniques. He is known for capturing light in water reflections, featuring vertical tree elements and using layered colors to create depth. In last year’s CWA 56th International Exhibition, Feng’s painting, Creek Morning, won the Silver Award, the People’s Choice Award, was on the cover, and it sold. We are honored to have Feng as our Juror of Selection.
r. mike nichols, Juror of Awards
Born in Long Beach, CA, Mike attended California State University Long Beach where he received his BFA in illustration and M.A. in Art. While in the master’s program, he began freelancing with Bon Appetit, Datamation, Human Behavior, and Westways, as well as creating cards for several greeting card companies. He has also designed brochures and programs for a theater group and art festival. He has been an artist for more than 60 years. When he finished with his career as an illustrator he began to paint for himself. Now he creates for the joy and satisfaction it brings him, painting images that relate to his life and his experiences. He is a storyteller who loves to mix in humor and quirkiness. His style is eclectic, a combination of the real and the surreal with elements of whimsy. Mike maintains his signature status with NWS, CWA, TWS to name a few. His painting, Watching TV, was juried into the AWS International Exhibition, won the Bud and Gretchen Marble Medal and will be on tour next year. We look forward to Mike’s award selections.
| September 1, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT |
Entry deadline |
| October 1, 2026 |
Acceptance notification |
| November 17-20, 2027 |
Receive shipped and hand-delivered paintings |
| November 21, 2026 |
Awards selection |
| January 16, 2027 |
Exhibition opens |
| January 16, 2027, 4:00-6:00 pm PDT |
Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony |
| February 16, 2027 |
Exhibition closes |
| February 17, 2027, 1:00-4:00 pm PDT |
Pick up of hand-delivered paintings |
The building housing the Piedmont Center for the Arts was originally built in the early 1930s as a home and was subsequently used as a church, and then purchased by the City of Piedmont in 2003. Eight years later, a group of citizens formed a non-profit corporation and signed a 10-year lease with the city to operate the building as a community center for performing arts and cultural activities. In August 2011, the Piedmont Center for the Arts was opened to the public. Since then, the Center has been used for a wide range of music performances, art exhibits, authors, speakers, film presentations, and gatherings for student art. The building is located at 801 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, California 94611.
- CWA 57th International Exhibition is open to all artists 18 years or older.
- Paintings must be two-dimensional and primarily of watermedia
- Pastel or collage may be used as long as watermedia is the dominant element.
- No digital media, photography, prints, or reproductions. Source material and composition must be wholly original and not derived from any published images.
- All photo reference material must be taken by the artist and should not be copyrighted or published.
- Entries must be recent works completed within the last two years, entirely the work of the artist, and not shown previously in a CWA International/National Exhibition.
- Exhibited works will be considered for sale at the price indicated during the submission process. Works not for sale must be designated “NFS.” All sales will be handled through CWA. The commission is 30%.
- No workshop or classwork is allowed.
- Artists who fail to provide the accepted painting will be disqualified from the next two CWA International Exhibitions.
- Minimum image: 140 square inches, no side less than 10 inches.
- Maximum outside frame: 44x44 inches.
- Maximum weight: 35 lbs.
Substrates: Paintings must be two-dimensional and primarily of watermedia (ie, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, egg tempera, watercolor ink) on archival substrates such as watercolor paper, watercolor board or illustration board, Aquabord, Yupo, Tyvec, or rice paper.
Framing: Frames must be a simple, square-cornered frame and ready for hanging, using one of the following methods:
1. Frame with acrylic covering. No glass is permitted.
2. Mats (if used) must be white or off-white. Colored liner mats are acceptable.
3. Artists outside of the contiguous USA may send artwork unframed, and CWA will frame it for the exhibition for an additional $150 fee. Additional details will be included in instructions to accepted artists.
4. Paintings that are properly varnished and sealed may be framed without a mat and acrylic covering in a floater or plein air frame.
No work may be withdrawn before the end of the exhibit. CWA and PAC reserve the right to photograph the artwork or use images for promotional purposes. Insurance coverage is the artist’s sole responsibility, both in transit and during the exhibit. Neither the CWA nor PAC insures the artwork and will not be liable for any loss or damage to the submitted artwork. Accepted artists must sign a release of liability. The submission of entries to this competition shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to the terms and conditions as outlined in this prospectus.
All entries will be submitted through our website, www.californiawatercolor.org.
CWA MEMBERS
Select Members Login on the CWA Home Page; select the 57th International Exhibition link; confirm your information; enter your painting details and upload your images. Entry Fee for Members (nonrefundable): $50 for one image, $5 for each additional image (maximum of three images, $60 total). Entry fees are payable via PayPal using a credit, debit, or individual account.
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NON-CWA MEMBERS
From the CWA Home Page, click on 57th International – How to Enter link, or navigate to Shows/Exhibitions, International Exhibitions, International Exhibition Entry – Non-CWA Members, and follow the instructions. Entry Fee for Non-members (nonrefundable): $60 for one image, $5 for each additional image (maximum of three images, $70 total). Entry fees are payable via PayPal using a credit, debit, or individual account.
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YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY:
- Title of painting
- Size of frame and size of painting image (height x width)
- Selling price
- Medium
- A digital jpg image of your painting, 300 dpi, and no more than 1200 pixels on the longest side. Show only the image without a mat or frame.
You may wish to join CWA prior to entry to save on your entry fee and to enjoy the benefits of membership. You may do this during the entry process.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, AT 5:00 PM PDT.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please email 57questions@californiawatercolor.org.
You can also call Ruth Miller at 925-683-1120.
PROSPECTUS
Download the prospectus PDF here
