MOOD. Animals with Attitude 2025, International Juried Art Exhibition
- sarahsoward
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Congratulations to all the artists of "MOOD. Animals with Attitude 2025!"
A wide range of moods are represented in this surprising exhibition. These artists went beyond happy, sassy, and mad to a cornucopia. We have dreamy, curious, vengeful, radiant, proud, and non-plussed, to name a few.
The artistry and skill used to communicate these moods is often thorough enough to make the viewer feel them too.
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. We brought in two new-to-us jurors for this one, and the gallery is excited to see that they also appreciate a range of styles when it comes to wildlife art. Jurors were Sarah Soward, Sharon Eisley, Kirsten Kainz, and Sondra Rosenberg.
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
The White Stallion and Band, by Mimi Cernyar-Fox. 40 x 52 inches, Oil on Canvas
From the artist, "On the threshold of human engagement in the presence of nature, the artist finds enchantment just as a child lives in an enchanted world that is always alive and in dialogue.
"The first time I saw a horse I was completely enchanted; they became to me as important as food, and going to church. When I paint them, I am deeply connected to my work as the recollection and imagery flow through childhood memories. With these beautiful depictions of horses, their interactions with each other and the earth, we get a sense of their (horse) community and joyful participation in nature. In the paintings I am sharing a life of magic. "We don't have to theorize about the meaning of life so much, we just must let the enchantment in life pour in."
Color, abstraction, and the play of light versus shadow set the mood. There is enough representation in this painting that the viewer knows what's what, but there is also enough room for the idea of enchantment and dream to take over.
Looking at this painting does not only evoke a mood but changes the mood of the viewer. Everything calms. There's room to exist again.
OVERALL RUNNER UP
Windy Today? by Cristina Martins
8 x 12 inches, Acrylic on Illustration Board
From the artist, "Ink illustration with permanent markers, charcoal shading and watercolor. I was inspired by the Dog Photography Awards, where I saw a super funny dog, clearly having doubts about his new haircut and kind of angry.
"I found the photo on @graphyco.printing, @valeriacassinafot, and @blackpoodle_studio."
The hair is a mood. The muzzle is a mood. That giant eye so full of expression brings a center point to a drawing made up of intentional confusion. There's organization to this mop-haired mixed media piece. It's clear the artist understood the importance of directionality of their lines and the significance of their value scale.
ARTIVISM AWARD
The Guarded, by Simon Treseder 17 x 24 x 35 in, Stainless Steel and recycled metals and tools. Contains a battery and led red light eyes.
From the artist, "This piece draws inspiration from our pet British Bulldogs—their moods, their attitude, and those unmistakable side-eye glances.
"A British Bulldog commands space, confidently parting crowds as it walks, yet beneath the bluster, there's no bite—just charm. My interpretation captures that bold, unmissable presence on the outside, while revealing the soft, marshmallow hearts hidden within."
Not everything we believe is ferocious actually is. This piece of subtly artivistic sculpture reminds the viewer that British bulldogs are made up of more than just teeth.
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Congratulations to our Overall Honorable Mention winners, Holly Kavonic, Stefanie Boss, Ginger Gehres, Holly Harper, Elena Orlova, Leon Laria, Ira DellaMonica, Alena Saburova, and Ivan Ujevic.
FINALISTS
Congratulations to our award Finalists, Emma Graham, Cynthia Martin, Monica Wiles, Casey Williams, Tracey Britton, Renny Spencer, Barbara Hess, Megan Elizabeth, Barbara Hess, Deborah LaFogg Docherty, Cristina Martins, Ira DellaMonica, Beatrice Rimoldi, Barney Levitt, Bobbe Jones, Anyu Liu, and Serena Mood.
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, Natasha Lazareva, Yuliia Naumenko, Gill Pollitt, Adrienne Gaines, Yulia Azi, Ashley Pennington, Thyra Moore, Karla Mann, Nancy Lavoie, Anna Pluda, Debora Soule, and Magdalena Augustin.
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 April 2026. After that date, ArtCall.org automatically archives the pages.
Award Distribution for MOOD. Animals with Attitude 2025
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 $100 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, Kirsten Kainz, and Sondra Rosenberg.
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