The National Society of Arts & Letters along with FAR Center for Contemporary Art presented the 2026 Visual Arts Competition + Exhibition. The work was exemplary and displayed a wide range of painting, mixed media, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, small sculpture, metalsmithing, fiber and video art. Works were on view at the FAR Center for Contemporary Art from March 4 — 12. The reception and awards ceremony took place at 5:30pm on Friday March 6^th, during Gallery Walk.

Exhibiting Artists

Alison Cofrancesco / Aliya Utz / Amanda Ruddell / Auguste Baxter / Ava Harmon / Avery Miller / Bailee Parsons / Bee Shaffer / Bethany Habegger / Bridget O’Brien / Carolina Zapata Bustamante / Cassidy Kaufman / Danielle Shum / Emkay Fahrnow / Evelynn Gray / Forest Steele / Gracie Klingbeil / Hailey Officer / Hannah Toepp / Hero DeMaio / Holly Truong / Jonathan Hruaia / Katelyn Bihn / Kenya Hunter / Kye Klemczewski / Lane Egyhazi / Lee Raigner / Lilian Jade Miller / Lucy Eickelberg / Maggie Phelan / Matthew Wilhelm / Max Hancock / Max Miller / Max Trumpower / Meredith Queener / Morgan Queener / Morijah Kahl / Ngun Par / Olivia Arnold / Olivia Drew / Olivia Trevino / Payton Henn / Rachel Bush / Renea Kerchief / Ricardo Andres / Rose Herron / Ruviendel Isenia / Samaira Snow / Sebastian Escobedo / Sylvia Bobb / Wren Spellman / Zoe Dognaux

Award Winners

Klein Merit Award $250 Winner: MAX TRUMPOWER

Klein Merit Award $250 Winner: AUGUSTE BAXTER

Klein Merit Award $250 Winner: MORIJAH KAHL

Barbara Bachmura Memorial Award and Smith Merit Award $300 Winner: BAILEE PARSONS

Klein Merit Award and Kingsley Merit Award $350 Winner: LUCY EICKELBERG 

Edwin Lee Caldwell Memorial Award $500 Winner: WREN SPELLMAN

Carolyn and Dave Emmert Tribute Award $600 Winner: CASSIDY KAUFMAN

Reva Shiner Memorial Award $850 Winner: NGUN PAR

Ilknur P. Ralston Memorial Award $1,000 Winner: OLIVIA TREVINO

Nelda Christ Memorial Award $1,200 Winner: HOLLY TRUONG

Chapter Career Award $2,000 Winner: MAX MILLER

Total Awarded: $7,550

NSAL stands for ​‘National Society of Arts & Letters.’ The mission of NSAL is to identify, encourage and support artists, between the ages of 18 to 29 years, preparing for professional careers in their individual disciplines. The Indiana Chapter was founded in 1966 by professionals and patrons representing both Indiana University and the south central Indiana region. Since its founding, the chapter has awarded more than $800,000 to emerging young artists preparing for professional careers. Annual competitions in the arts are judged by active professionals in visual arts, ballet, contemporary dance, drama, literature, instrumental music, voice, and musical theater. Many Bloomington award winners have gone on to distinguished national and international careers.