Our theme for this year’s Teen Art Contest is “Wild Colorado.”
Colorado turns 150 this year! Help celebrate by creating a piece of art inspired by your interpretation of “Wild Colorado.” Does your inspiration come from the majestic mountains and picturesque streams? The wildlife that enters your backyard? Extreme sports? Eccentric figures from the past or present? Gold rush towns that turned into ghost towns? Enter your piece to win a prize!
Entries are judged by fellow teens, along with one award that is judged by Library staff.
Important Dates
- Sign up online between Mon., Dec. 1, 2025 – Tue., Feb. 10, 2026
- Drop off your artwork from Fri., Feb. 6 – Tue., Feb. 10
- Awards Ceremony will be on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library
- Art will be on display throughout April
- Pick up your art the first week of May
How to enter:
Make sure you qualify:
- Must be ages 13 - 19 at time of submission
- Must be an El Paso County resident
Create your art following these guidelines:
- Create something that is a 2D form of art
- Artwork can be any type of two-dimensional art form, as long as it can safely hang on the wall.
- Including but not limited to: photography, digital art, painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, prints, crochet, etc.
- There are no formal size requirements, but it needs to be something we can hang on the wall and transport in a regular passenger vehicle.
- Artwork can be any type of two-dimensional art form, as long as it can safely hang on the wall.
Prepare your art:
- We highly recommend paper artwork be mounted on mattes or foamboard. This helps protect it during transportation and helps with hanging.
- An exception is for art intended to be displayed at Library 21c, which is only able to accommodate a limited number of unframed art on paper.
- For display at East and Penrose libraries, submitting art with or without a frame is fine, but not preferred.
- Pieces on canvas don’t need additional protection.
- Your submission should be able to support being hung using our galley hanging wire system.
- Ideally, this means there is a hanging wire on your piece or a spot we can attach a hanging wire to.
- There are several free or low-cost ways to attach a hook or D-Ring.
- PPLD will supply hanging wire and attach hooks upon receiving submissions if needed.
- PPLD may mount plain paper artwork on black posterboard or foam core to accommodate hanging if needed (for display at East and Penrose libraries).
Complete the entry forms:
- Sign up online between Mon., Dec. 1, 2025 – Tue., Feb. 10, 2026
Drop off your submission:
- Bring in your art and completed art agreement form between Fri., Feb. 6 - Tue., Feb. 10 to a drop-off location.
Other Entry Guidelines:
- Only one entry per person
- Library Staff reserve the right to decline inappropriate entries
Award Categories
- Best in Show
- 7th - 9th Grade Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice
- 10th - 12th Grade Division: First Place, Second Place, and Coordinator's Choice
Winning participants will be notified via letter in mid-March, with specific awards announced at the awards ceremony on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library. All entries accepted into the show will be on display in April at East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c.
FAQs
Can I submit a photograph/digital art/other type of 2D art?
Any type of 2D art piece is accepted as long as we can hang it on the wall and it can be transported between Libraries. We have had digital pieces, photography, crochet, paintings, drawings, photographs of sculptures, collage, charcoal, and more!
Do you have size requirements for pieces?
We have to be able to transport pieces between Libraries, so submissions should be small enough to fit in a regular passenger vehicle and be hung on a wall.
When will I know if I have won?
We will notify award winners by mid-March. All participants and their friends and family are invited to the Awards Ceremony on Tue., March 17 at 6 p.m. at East Library regardless of winning an award.
Will my artwork be displayed?
Yes! You can choose from one of three locations to have your artwork displayed during the month of April. Locations include East Library, Penrose Library, or Library 21c.
When and where can I pick up my artwork?
You can pick up your artwork the first week of May at the Library where you selected to have it displayed. An email will be sent in April with specific details.
What are the prizes?
In the past, winners received a drawing mannequin and gift card to Meininger’s Art Supply store.
What can I do to improve my chances of winning?
Work with the theme—It doesn’t have to be a literal interpretation, but we do look for pieces that have been inspired by the theme in some way. Your paragraph describing your piece can have a big impact on this.
Stand out! Whether through subject matter or having an unusual take on the theme, we notice unique entries more. For example, we tend to get a lot of close-ups of eyes, so they tend to not stand out as much.
Have fun! Don’t view it as an assignment or chore. We can tell when someone submits a piece that they are passionate about—so do something that you love!
Do I have to have a matte?
No, but we highly encourage it. Pieces are not judged on having a matte or not, but mattes help protect your artwork during storage and transportation and make it easier to hang your piece. Frames are also accepted, but mattes are preferred.
I'm a teacher with an amazing class, can I enter them?
Yes! If you are a teacher that would like to enter a class of students who want to participate, you can fill out the 2026 Teen Art Contest Submission Form – Teachers form linked above to complete one entry form for all of your students. You will be responsible for communicating with participants about the award ceremony and art pick-up.
My question wasn’t answered here.
Email Jordan Romero at jromero@ppld.org