Apply today!

2026 Small Works Show(26)
2026 Small Works Show(15)

Ten talented students are selected each year by a global jury of artists, curators, and academics to showcase their art as professionals at the 2026 Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. This exclusive exhibit takes place on the main floor of the Lakewood Center, giving students the chance to display, sell, and be recognized alongside established artists. Their work will be judged separately from the Youth Exhibit, and each student will be welcomed at the professional artist reception.

This is your chance to make your first professional debut.

2026 Small Works Show(8)

Application must be submitted by April 15, 2026

2026 Small Works Show(11)

To apply, you will need:

  • Images of 3 separate pieces of your best work. Aim for cohesiveness of your style.

  • A letter of recommendation from your teacher, employer, or mentor
  • An artist statement
2026 Small Works Show(13)
  • NO AI GENERATED ART IS ACCEPTED.
  • Artwork must be offered for sale at the submitted price.Festival retains 30% commission on all sales, including post-Festival sales. Balance paid to artist within 30 days.

  • Wall art must be ready to hang- we will work with you on options.

  • Unsold work must be picked up in the week following the Festival.

  • Festival may use images of the artwork for publicity during and after the event.

  • The jury does not see your name, age, or any school or contact information. They judge only on your images and statement.
2026 Small Works Show(16)

If selected for the gallery, artists will need to provide:

  • Five original artworks of your choice

  • Any 2D or 3D medium, ready to hang or display

  • Signed pieces with labels including title, name, and price

  • All work offered for sale (30% Festival commission)

  • An artist statement and short bio to introduce your voice and style

2026 Small Works Show(12)

Accepted artists receive training on how to write strong artist statements and set fair prices for their work. Participation opens doors to real opportunities, including:

  • Artwork sales

  • Scholarships and awards

  • Future exhibits at Lakewood

  • Letters of recommendation from Festival leadership

  • Social media promotion and media coverage

This is your chance to grow as an artist, gain recognition, and showcase your work on a professional stage.

2026 Small Works Show(17)
Andrew Goe Bird Day Party (Instagram Post (45))

Andrew is a 10th-grade student with a growing exhibition record. He has received awards from the Clackamas ESD Regional Art Show and earned a Blue Ribbon at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, where he exhibited in the Joan Eliot Sappington Gallery. His artwork was displayed at Lakewood Center's Gallery for Emerging Youth Artists in October, 2025. A piece purchased at the 2025 Festival is on display at the brand new Holloway Apartments in Portland, Or.

I have grown up attending the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts every year and so being able to be part of the festival was a great honor. Being in the Sappington gallery opened my eyes to the professional art world. As an emerging artist, it was very beneficial to gain real world experience and learn about how to be a successful artist. Through this gallery I have been given opportunities that I would not have received otherwise. The wonderful staff helped guide me and my peers through this experience and give us all the support we needed to be successful. Thanks to the Joan Eliot Sappington Galley, I can now consider myself a professional artists! I am excited to apply again next year!

-Noel Hildenbrand

Noel Hildenbrand
Noel Hildenbrand

I had a great experience with the Festival, it was my first time selling my work and it was such a smooth  and easy process. I think I’m now much more educated on how to sell my work successfully and I hope to continue to do so, so it was a fantastic first step for me and I’m really appreciative of the opportunity.

-Rachel Khalili

Rachel Khalili
Rachel Khalili
Lily Horn
Lily Horn

My time at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts has been consistently amazing for my personal growth and my art journey. The festival provides me with a unique experience with connecting with people that I haven't been allowed anywhere else, and what it has done for me has been extremely impactful. Not only have the people I've worked with been kind, understanding, and helpful, but all the unique individuals I've been able to converse with has really been what made the festival so great, and something I now will forever look forward to. Creating art has, in reality, been a search for conversation, communicating, and connecting, and that is exactly a part of what the festival represents. The way it provides so many youth opportunities has given a voice to many students who also feel the need to speak up.

-Lily Horn

IMG_4873

2026 Joan Eliot Sappington Gallery Application

Application Checklist(Required)
I understand that participation in this gallery includes:(Required)
Name(Required)
Max. file size: 100 MB.
This can be a PDF or photo of the letter. it must be signed and dated. We will verify all letters for candidates to ensure they are real.
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 3.
    Please name the files with your last name and title of the piece. Please make sure they are clear, but we don't need huge files. Keep them under 10MB.