Bernini Awards Prospectus

Submission Criteria:


Evident Mastery of the Artistic Medium: employed:meeting high standards in the fundamental facets of the artistic craft including mature competency in the use of the human figure.


Content: Biblical or Ecclesiastical subjects suitable for pious devotional and/or liturgical use while demonstrating knowledge and continuity of historical artistic practice in the Catholic tradition.

Effectiveness in Sacramental Revelation: works of art which reach beyond a mere copy of an earthly object, portrait of a model, political statement, or the technological process, will be given preference.

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Categories:

Subjects sought include Biblical or Ecclesiastical subjects scenes - examples: Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; other biblical scenes, stories, and characters; depictions of the saints and their lives; depictions of the seven sacraments; personifications of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, virtues and vices, icons and so on.

 Please read this article in the Sacred Architecture Journal, by sculptor, Cody Swanson, for guidance on the correct theological approach to sacred art and the types of work the jurors are seeking for this call: https://www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/the_human_figure_and_contemporary_sacred_art

This video contains extremely valuable information about theological approaches to sacred art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3c1OrRusGk&t=129s

Subject Restrictions:
 

Media limited to representational painting, illumination, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, liturgical textiles, stained glass, mosaic, altar furnishings, and devotional items such as medals, monstrances, vestments, etc. 

Artwork must be recognizable and appropriate for liturgical use,  public or private devotion.

No photography, hyper-realism, or computer-generated art will be accepted. AI submissions will be disqualified.



Subjects which will not be considered include:

• copies of existing works (excluding Icons), unless the copy interrupts the existing work, adding or editing it in some new way.

• portrayals of non-canonized persons as saints

• works which are only recognizably religious from their titles

• scenes of the exterior or interior of churches (unless the work is illustrating an important religious/historical event or the administration of the sacraments)

• mass produced statues which have been painted or statue restoration projects.

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Eligibility

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All submitted works are eligible for the competition's online gallery regardless of size or if for sale/NFS. The winners gallery will be published in Nov 2025

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Only works for sale are eligible for the live exhibition, dates to be announced very soon and will be sometime in late Jan/Feb 2026 at the Sacred Art Gallery.

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For the gallery show:

Paintings for the exhibition should be no longer than 42 in height or width.

Sculptures shouldn't exceed 100 lbs or 20 in in height or width.

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This competition and exhibition is open to any artist over the age of 18, professional or amateur, of any religious background. 

All entries must be original, by the submitting artist, and created within the past ten years.  Limit five entries per artist. Works need not be for sale to be eligible for the virtual exhibition on the Catholic Art Institute website, but only works for sale are eligible for the live exhibition in January 2026 at the Sacred Art Gallery.

Please mark your submission NFS (not for sale) or if the work is for sale, please take into consideration market value and the 50% commission for sales from The Sacred Art Gallery. The Sacred Art Gallery will donate a portion of sales to the Catholic Art Institute.

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If you have any questions about eligibility please email contact@catholicartinstitute.org.

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