Fine Arts

Entries Received in the Bonneville Building:

Entries Released and picked up from the Bonneville Building:

8/30/2026 - online pre-registration FOR QUICK DRAW AND CHALK ART WILL CLOSE. On site registration available as long as space is available.

8/30/2026- Online entry registration closes and onsite registration form available

9/3/2026 - 9/5/2026- ON SITE REGISTRATION

Entry Fee Per Entry

In Sections A-E: Exhibitors may enter 1 painting or 1 bronze, except in the Professional division where exhibitors may enter 2 paintings and/or 2 bronze. The entries will be juried.

*Special Artist disability must be relevant to the entry

DIVISIONS:

FAP - Professional- Any exhibitor who has attained a high level of proficiency in their field of interest, but also receives monetary compensation. (ex: sells online, in person in a store or teaches)

FAA- Amateur-Any exhibitor ages 18+ that is not professional or special artist (In fine arts exhibitors can sell a small amount of art and still be in this division)

FAS - Sr. Citizen- Age 65 and Over

FAY - Young Amateur– Age 12-17

FAJ - Junior Amateur- Age 5-11

FASA -Special Artist -The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines an individual with a disability as a person who: (1) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that person; (2) Has a record of such an impairment; or (3) Is regarded as having such impairment. The impairment must be relevant to the art style.

1. JURIED SHOW - In order to display the entries to their best advantage the exhibit may be juried before judging. Jurors will decide which entries will be displayed and entered in competition. The decision of the jurors will be FINAL. The juried show will apply only in the event of a large number of entries.
2. Exhibitors will be notified if their entry is juried out and advised of a pick-up date.
3. Entry charge refunds will be made on all exhibits that are juried out of the show.
4. Because of the family oriented nature of the Fair and this exhibit, objectionable or inappropriate items will not be displayed.
5. The State Fair will not be responsible for any exhibits left after Sept. 22nd, 2026
6. For Jewelry, Metal & Wood, Glass, Clay, China Painted Porcelain and Computer Generated Art see the Creative Arts Department. For Fiber Weaving and Fiber-Applied Surface Decorations see the Fiber Arts Department.

1. All pictures must either be securely framed and be equipped with screw eyes and wires; or “gallery wrapped” with the outside edges painted and be equipped with screw eyes and wires. No string, cords or clips are allowed. The receiving committee is instructed to refuse to accept paintings not meeting this requirement.
2. Paintings just freshly painted with the paint still wet will also be rejected.
3. The maximum size limit for all paintings is not to exceed 72 inches in its largest dimension, including the frame.

1. Entry is open to all artists of Utah who are residents, resident students, military residents, or native born. The Utah State Fair will not pay premiums to those who do not qualify under these requirements.
2. Work must be original and completed within the past three (3) years. Work previously entered at the Fair cannot be entered again.
3. ENTRY FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN THE NAME OF THE ORIGINAL ARTIST AND MUST BE SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. Exceptions will not be made.
4. Advertising media will not be allowed to be placed by the exhibits in the show.
5. Each artist must indicate Professional, Amateur, Young Amateur, Jr. Amateur or Sr. Citizen (the section in which they wish their entry to be judged). An entry not so designated will be judged in the classification which seems most likely to the jury. Work done in a medium other than the listed categories will be placed by the jury into the most closely related category.
6. Supervisor and Fine Arts employees may enter articles for display only.
7. Computer assisted entries will not be allowed. Please see the Creative Arts Department to enter.
8. An artist cannot be considered as Sr. Citizen and another classification in the same division and enter both with similar articles (i.e.: Professional sculpture and Sr. Citizen Oil). Artists must determine which classification they wish to enter and designate such.
9. No text will be allowed in or on the frame.
10. Art must be family friendly, no political, religious, advertisements, nudity, explicit images or vulgar language permitted.
11. Exhibitors will be limited to winning one award per class.

1. SIGNED JUDGES SHEETS WILL BE USED AS THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON AWARDS OF WORKS EXHIBITED.
2. In the event of limited numbers of entries, the judges may use discretion in making awards. They may not award any placing to an inferior item.
3. In the event there is only one entry in a division and no competition, prize money and/or ribbons may not be awarded.
4. Judging will be done in the designated departments and artists must classify themselves in one of those departments. Judges may move art into a different division and class if appropriate.
5. Judges will be allowed to enter exhibits for display only.
6. Judging date: Tuesday September 8th, 2026 - Closed to public

A trophy, rosette, and $350 will be awarded to the Best Exhibit in the entire show selected from the various Best of Show awards. Winner of this award will forfeit the Best of Show Award.

A rosette and $30 will be presented to the exhibitor of the favorite painting and the favorite sculpture chosen by the public. There will be 2 awards. Voting will take place September 10th through the 17th and the award will be placed on September 18th. The public may vote for one in each category.

FAP - PROFESSIONAL - $275, a Rosette and Trophy

FAA - AMATEUR - $225, a Rosette and Trophy

FAY - YOUNG AMATEUR - $50, a Rosette and Trophy

FAJ - JUNIOR AMATEUR - $50, a Rosette and Trophy

FAS - SENIOR - $100, a Rosette and Trophy

FASA - SPECIAL ARTIST - $100, a Rosette and Trophy

Class

001. Landscape

002. People and Animals

003. Still Life

004. All other Oil and Acrylic

Class

011. Landscape

012. People and Animals

013. Still Life

014. All Other Watercolor

(includes charcoal, pencil, ink, etchings, block printing, lithographs, collage, air brush, encaustic (wax), mixed media, items that are highly illustrational and artwork that is produced other than using a brush (this does not include art produced by a computer)).
Class

021. Landscape

022. People and Animals

023. Still Life

024. All Other Graphic Art

Class

031. All Pastels

Class

041. All Bronze Sculptures

The Quick Draw Competition is an opportunity for art to be created “en plein aire” (on location outdoors) in the atmosphere of the Fair using the Fair Experience as the subject matter.

Competition Date: Saturday, September 12th
Set - up and Registration: 9:00 am - Bonneville Building Patio (northeast corner of building) Pre-registration is requested. Register online or during art receiving dates or 9:00 am the day of competition.
Work must take place within the Fairpark and the final piece must be submitted by 3:30 p.m. at the Bonneville Building Patio.
Awards: Announced by 4:00 p.m.
Entry Fee: $15.00 - includes admission to Fair on date of competition.

Quick Draw Contest Rules:

1. Class 50 is Open to FAPQD and Class 51 to FAAQD Divisions only.

2. Artists will supply their own canvas, supplies, frame and wire for hanging or displaying the art. Maximum width of entry is 30", including frame. The canvas must be blank to begin and must be stamped at registration by an authorized Fine Art department employee. Several canvases may be stamped but only one submitted to the competition.

3. Artists may use any medium that is displayed in the Fine arts department, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, pen & ink, pastels or sculpture in clay, resin or wood.

4. Work must be completed "en plein aire" (on location outdoors) at the Fairpark. Artists must work from subject matter at the Fairpark or from photos they have taken themselves of the Fair this year as references. Artists may choose to paint out at the Fairpark or on the grass area behind the Bonneville Building. Artists must use caution in setting up their work as to not restrict the flow of Fair traffic. Artists are asked not to paint inside the Fine Art Building, as that is reserved for the Working Artist of the Day.

5. Work will be judged according to all the elements of art.

6. The art will be displayed during the remainder of the Fair which ends September 20th. Art will be released on September 21st. and 22nd.

7. The art may be labeled for sale at a price the artist chooses. Sale of the art will be up to each artist. The art must remain in the show. If a piece sells, the artist may deliver the art to the buyer after the Fair is over.

8. Work that is deemed inappropriate or is not accepted into the show should be retrieved on the day of competition by the artist.

PREMIUMS AWARDED

050. FAPQD QUICK DRAW

Competition Date: Saturday, September 12th 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Registration: 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM - Bonneville Building Patio (northeast corner of building)

Pre-registration is requested. Register online or during art receiving dates of September 3 - 5th. You may also register the morning of the event at 12:45 PM.

Painting will take place for only one and a half hours from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Work will need to be turned in by 2:30 PM.

• FAYQD - Young Amateur- Age 12-17
• FAJQD - Junior Amateur- Age 5-11

FAY and FAJ Quick Draw Contest Rules:

1. Artist must be accompanied by an adult. Class 60 is Open to FAYQD and Class 61 to FAJQD divisions only.

2. Artist will supply their own materials. The canvas or paper must be blank. Several canvases can be stamped but only one submitted to the competition. Frames will not be required. However, if the artist chooses, they may frame or matte their art. They must bring it with them the day of the competition.

3.Artist may use any medium that is displayed in the Fine Art Department, including, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, colored pencil, pen & ink, pastel, charcoal, mixed media, and clay for sculpture.

4.Work must be completed “en plein air” (on location outdoors or indoors) at the Fairpark.

5.Artist must use caution in setting up where to work to make sure it is safe and not restrict the flow of Fair traffic. Artists may not paint in the Fine Art Building.

6.Subject matter must be of the Utah State Fair this year. Artists may work from a photo taken by them at the Fair this year as a reference.

7.Work will be judged according to all the elements of art and will be on display the duration of the Fair. Art will be released on the Fine Art Release Dates September 21st and 22nd.

PREMIUMS AWARDED

Class

060. FAYQD QUICK DRAW

Competition Date: Friday, September 11th & Saturday, September 12th
Entry Fee: $10.00 - includes admission to Fair on date(s) of competition, tickets will be emailed.
Registration: Online pre-registration is recommended, as there are limited spaces. Pre-registration will end August 30th. Artist may then register in person at the Fine Art Building on September 3rd and 4th (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) or September 5th (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) If there is space available, artists may register the morning of September 11th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Fine Art Building (pick up your admission ticket at the Administration Building prior to entering)
Check-In: Fine Art Building beginning at 9:00 a.m. Approval of images will take place at check-in.
Location: Image creation location(s) will be given at check in.
Judging: Awards announced by 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th. If an artist is not present, they will be notified if they win an award.

Chalk Art Contest Rules:

1. Participants bring their own chalk, shade, water and chairs. There are plenty of food options for purchase at the Fair.

2. Class 70 is Open to FAPCA - Professional and Class 71 FAACA - Amateur Divisions only. One artist may participate per area. Participants must be 18 years or older.

3. Area chalked will be 4' x 4' or 6' x 6'. Each artist will decide and mark off their own square in their designated spot.

4. Artwork may be worked on using one or both days, the artist decide. On September 11th, the artist must leave when the Fair closes at 11:00 p.m. On September 12th, the artist may begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. for judging. (Judging may be earlier if weather dictates)

5. White or black washable paint must be applied before the chalk, as an undercoating on the cement. Artist will supply and apply their own paint.

6. Only chalk based pastels are allowed. No oil based pastels, oil based chalk and no fixatives.

7. Subject matter for chalk art is anything related to the Utah State Fair.

8. Images must be family friendly and approved before the artist begins. We reserve the right to disqualify any artwork that is deemed inappropriate. NO political, religious, advertisement, nudity, explicit images or vulgar language permitted.

9. The Fine Art Department encourages original art images but if derived from other sources, please give them credit.

10. Photos of the completed chalk art may be used by the Utah State Fair for advertising purposes without compensation to the artist.

PREMIUMS AWARDED

Class

070. FAPCA CHALK ART

Competition Date: Friday, September 11th & Saturday, September 12th
Entry Fee: $5.00 includes an emailed entry ticket.

Registration: Online pre-registration is recommended, as there are limited spaces. Pre-registration will end August 30th. If there is space available, artists may register the morning of September 11th at the Fine Art Building (pick up your admission ticket at the Administration Building prior to entering)
Check-In: Fine Art Building beginning at 9:00 a.m. Approval of images will take place at check-in.
Location: Image creation location(s) will be given at check in.
Judging: Awards announced by 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th. If an artist is not present, they will be notified if they win an award.

Youth Chalk Contest Rules:

1. Artists must be accompanied by an adult, Class 80 is open to FAYCA - Young Amateur and Class 81 is open to FAJCA - Junior Amateur divisions only.
2. Participants bring their own chalk, shade, water and chairs. There are plenty of food options for purchase at the Fair.
3. Only one artist will be competing in the youth divisions. The area will be 2’X2’ .
4. Subject matter for chalk art is anything related to the Utah State Fair. Images need to be approved at the time of Check In and be family friendly.
5. White or black water-based washable paint must be applied before the chalk as an undercoating. Artists will mark off their assigned area and supply and apply their own paint. Only chalk based pastels will be allowed.
6. Artwork may be worked on using one or both days. Artists may start at 9:00 am each day and must leave the Fair when it closes at 11:00 p.m.. Artwork must be completed by 7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12th ready to be judged.
7. Photos of the completed chalk art may be used by the Utah State Fair for advertising purposes without compensation to the artist.

PREMIUMS AWARDED

Class

080. FAYCA CHALK ART