4th Annual Wild Art Open, International Juried Art Exhibition
- sarahsoward
- Aug 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 1
Congratulations to all the artists of 4th Annual Wild Art Open! Artists did not hold anything back. This year's exhibition has beauty, mystery, aggression, and softness. We are thrilled by the range of wildlife-art styles presented here. Building exhibitions like this is why this gallery exists.
It is the goal of Wild Heart Gallery to support and promote animal and wildlife artwork in a wide range of genres and styles. Artwork for this exhibition was selected by jury based on theme, originality, skill, and quality of work. Jurors were Sarah Soward, Sharon Eisley, Torie Hilley, and Holly Kavonic.
Awards: Best of Show, Overall Runner Up, Artivism Award, Overall Honorable Mentions, and Finalists. There is also an art section of Selected Works.
Click on an image below to enlarge it.
BEST OF SHOW
Roseate Spoonbill, by Matt Patterson 28 x 32 inches, Acrylic
From the artist, "Roseate Spoonbill illustration done in acrylics on vellum art board."
Vibrancy, clarity of colors, clean and distinct edges, and the trick of negative space give this spoonbill a dramatic edge. The hyper-realistic detail is masterful. What helps this piece stand out is the interplay between all of that intricate work and the areas where the artist chose to allow color or form to be more developed than detail. Those differences encourage the viewer to believe the bird is alive and moving. Along with an impactful composition, the variation of stilled precision and flowing color keep the eye moving and the mind interested.
OVERALL RUNNER UP
Rhino's Delight, by Martli Heyns
40 x 30 inches, Collage and Acrylic paint
From the artist, "This semi-abstract mixed media painting captures a moment of pure, unbridled fun: a baby rhino playfully chasing southern carmine bee-eaters. I wanted to capture that raw, unadulterated delight of play. Play is a fundamental part of animal behavior—a way to learn, bond, and simply express joy. This piece is a riot of reddish-pinks, turquoise blues, and a sprinkle of grounding earth tones, echoing the vibrancy of the moment and the energy of youth."
Motion and stillness are depicted here with form and composition. One of the interesting aspects of this painting is the handling of paint. In the still areas, like the ground and sky, the brushwork is fast and barely formed. The contrast of careful strokes for the moving animals helps bring the sense of play the artist talks about. Even though the surrounding brushwork is "fast," it's blocky and heavy on horizontals and verticals. That makes it fairly stable. The abstraction and blending of it help push the scene back, giving the animals center stage. It's a bit of a fight though. Color and value-scale choices create push and pull where the sky is very light and the foreground and birds are darker. It's a fun experience to simply look and let the painting's spatial relationships undulate.
ARTIVISM AWARD
Otters at Dusk, by Susan Munderich 18 x 18 inches, Linocut Print, Editioned
From the artist, "Otters at Dusk captures the magical experience my son and I enjoyed while watching a pair of otters in Frenchman’s Bay. This was our first Pickering otter sighting. In the evening’s golden glow, swans congregated near the boat slips in a sleepy flotilla, and bats swooped after hovering insects.
"My original linocut prints, inspired by first-hand nature experiences, celebrate biodiversity, adaptations, ecosystems and conservation, while reflecting the stunning beauty of our local wild spaces. By revealing the complex, but often hidden, drama that unfolds daily in our very neighbourhoods, I hope to spark viewers’ curiosity and provoke further inquiry into our surroundings."
Susan Munderich involved and meaningful linocut prints. This is not the first time her work has been in one of our exhibitions. This piece is a fantastic example of her work. It takes the viewer through various levels of an ecosystem and gently encourages questions about the role of humans in this bit of nature. The artist alternates negative and positive space, setting up layers of separation and then intermingles the two in the surface of the water as if to denote shared space (and the possible chaos that can cause). Line variation (length, width, and shape in general) clarifies what's what for the viewer and helps us navigate these detailed visual spaces using only black and white.
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Congratulations to our Overall Honorable Mention winners, Rebecca Engels, Lynne Reeves, Martli Heyns, Dunja Tessarek, Cher Pruys, Sophie Brouillet, Nancy Walters, and Douglas Aja.
FINALISTS
Congratulations to our award Finalists, Robert Sandor, Natasha Lazareva, Jacqueline Claudet Mitterer, Lynn Kibbe, Anne-Gaillard Duddy, Lynn Haste, Matt Gaberell, Maryam Fardinfard, Anna Mrzyglod, Christine Busch, Jayde Cooper, Sophie Brouillet, Rebecca Findlay, Kathleen Truax, Holly Cannon, Chandra Brooks, and Dan Soucek.
SELECTED WORKS
This section is for works that are selected for the virtual exhibition here on wildheartgallery.com but are not awarded.
Congratulations to our Selected Works artists, Janet Mandel, Holly Cannon, Helen Turkdogan, Helen Turkdogan, Rebecca Engels, Robert Sandor, Britney Gibson, Britney Gibson, Bruce Bauer, Cindy Moore, Nathaly Cajigas, Bryona Hamilton, Shawna Hinkel, Wiktor Kotarski, and Kari Chittenden.
SEE MORE ENTRIES
The entries that made it to the final round of judging are also available to view on our art submission partner site: ArtCall.org
These additional images will be available to view through approximately July 2026. After that date, ArtCall automatically archives the pages.
Award Distribution for 4th Annual Wild Art Open
Best in Show receives $350 cash award and promotion on the following: Art Week, Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media and other online media channels, WHG's eNewsletter, and WHG's home page (for duration of the exhibition).
Overall Runner Up receives $150 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
Artivism Award receives $50 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
All award recipients receive promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month. All award recipients also receive an award certificate, emailed as a PDF to the email address used for the submission process.
This art exhibition was juried by Sarah Soward, Sharon Eisley, Torie Hilley, and Holly Kavonic.
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