Focus In: Protecting the Planet through Art

Established in 2017, the EarthX Eco Art Competition provides young artists from around the globe with a platform to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire others to take action through art. The competition opens the discussion to introduce ideas and concepts that can sustain our environment through an artistic lens.

About EarthX
EarthX is an international environmental nonprofit connecting a global community to positively impact our world for future generations. Each year on Earth Day, April 22, in Dallas, Texas, EarthX convenes the world’s largest green gathering. The EarthX Eco Art Competition has continued to grow since its inception. In 2022, 1,336 student entrees representing 66 different countries were submitted, the highest rate of submissions to date.

Invitation to Participate
This year’s competition is underway and there is still time for students ages five to twenty-two to enter. The contest consists of two parts:

Create an original fine art piece addressing the 2023 theme: Protectors for the Planet. All media welcome. Artwork may be 2D or 3D. Please refer to the full entry requirements on the EarthX website.
Each submission must provide an impact essay or artist statement of 300 words maximum. The impact essay allows the artist to describe how their artistic representation embodies the theme.

This year’s theme grants artists great latitude to illustrate how they can directly impact their community or provide a solution to a global environmental concern. The artist may interpret the theme Protectors for the Planet to include individuals taking action towards a more sustainable future, such as a well-known environmentalist leading the charge to save the planet.

Perhaps an artist will interpret the theme more figuratively and illustrate animals and organisms such as honeybees or bats working to sustain ecosystems. Students can focus on ocean health, pollution, climate change, waste disposal, wildlife conservation or green innovation, and more.

Collaborations
Collaborative works are welcome. The category for judging will be determined by the age of the oldest group member. Please refer to rules and guidelines for submission details. In 2022, a brother and sister team, aged ten and seven, designed a relief sculpture describing the effects of air pollution. Using recycled cardboard, the older brother constructed incredible cars and trucks while his younger sister designed the background display with unexpected materials.

Selections
All participants will be showcased on the 2023 EarthX website gallery wall and receive a digital participation certificate. Selected finalists are exhibited during the EarthX Earth Day Celebration, Expo, and conferences, which are attended by thousands of visitors, world leaders, and environmental enthusiasts.

Winners receive cash prizes, ribbons, and a personalized finalist certificate. The competition judging panel consists of professional artists, gallery owners, museum board members, art educators, and collectors. The submission deadline is January 24, 2023. Please visit EarthX.org.