EXHIBITION OPENING Thursday, JUNE 18, 5:30–7:30 PM
AWARD CEREMONY 6 PM
Acceptance and rejection notifications
emailed to applicants
Tuesday, may 12
80th Ohio Annual Exhibition
About the Ohio Annual Exhibition
In 1942, the Zanesville Art Institute held the first annual May Show of Arts and Crafts for artists in and around Zanesville. Eight decades later, this annual exhibition continues at the Zanesville Museum of Art as the Ohio Annual Exhibition. This highly anticipated exhibition, the eligibility for which has been expanded statewide, recognizes the extraordinary ¬fine art and fine craft created in the Buckeye state and celebrates the museum’s commitment to discovering, encouraging, and recognizing Ohio’s finest artists and artisans.
In its 80th year, this competitive, juried exhibition welcomes submissions from all Ohio artists, in all stages of their career. In 2026, around three hundred artists vied for the opportunity to exhibit their work at the museum and earn the title Best in Show.
Each year we look forward to presenting a stylistically and thematically diverse exhibition that captures the essence of Ohio’s vibrant visual arts scene. The people, places, and customs found in each unique region of the Buckeye state inspire its artists and the ZMA is in the fortunate position of recognizing and fostering this creativity.
The 80th Ohio Annual Exhibition Artists
1. Painting, All Types
Rick L. Akers - Poppies
Michael Anderson - Fog Holding Light
H. Maria Armijo - The Dreamers
Brian Ballenger - Matisse Weave, No. 3 (Bouquet of Flowers on a Veranda)
Jill Beebe - Asking for Trouble
Steve Cocca - Quarry Trails Park
Monica Crawford - Tuscan Vineyard in March
Marlisa Dunn - In Wonder
Lisa Eastman - River Roots
Briell Giancola - No such thing as Nothing
Keiko Hidaka - Shale Hollow
Emma Rose Hooper - Overcast Approaches
Marty Husted - Chasing Light
Marty Kalb - Curacao
David LaPalombara - Rum Island Daybreak
Robert Mazurek - Portrait of Sarah VI
Robin Schuricht - Frozen Reflection
Tracy Shutt - Summer’s bounty
Dick Stevens - Pumpkin Patch
Yan Sun - Along the Muskingum River
2. Drawing, Prints, and Collage
Elaine Andrews - The child is mother of the woman
Patricia Brett - Tethered
Patricia Brett - Latitude
Angela Finney - Eggs For Easter Breakfast
Kathy A. Moore - View of Dayton
Troy Neptune - Pond Complexities I
Charles Szabla - Tappan Lake Dock 2
Charles Szabla - Columbus Metropolitan Library Steps
3. Sculpture
Andrew Alspach - Woman Torso
Carol Boram-Hays - Bristle
Gabrielle Davis - A Pawn in Someone Else's Game
Kevin Kautenburger - Bee Map for Karl VF
Bella Smith - Waste Basket
Eric Tuck-Macalla - Pallets and stacked chairs
Weiting Wei - Let it Grow
4. Jewelry, and Functional Metalwork
Mikelle Hickman-Romine - The Regal
5. Ceramics
Robert Bruch - Rip Tide
Robert Bruch - Strata
Misty Johnson - Genesis 1 : 12
Misty Johnson - Genesis 1 : 2
Christine Nocar - Penelope
Lacey Slatten - Kaleidoscope Coral
6. Glass
Benjamin Johnson - Boundary of Light
Sydney Kay - Azrie’l
7. Photography
Rebecca Cummings - Silent Witness
Shawn Digity - Chic
Clair Farris - Grand Canyon on Mottled Film
Mark Fohl - Descending
Richard Martin Hahn - Maria in the Window
Rod McIntyre - Calm Bay
Rita Montlack - Be Outrageous
Karen Ollis - Dissolving
Karen Ollis - Ripple Effect
Anat Pollack - Rete_#1
Brandon Elijah Scott - Aurora Reflections
8. Fiber Art, Textiles, and Quilts
Emily Felderman - Lines
Madeline Fraioli - Parmeshwari Shroud
Elisha Frontz - Double Wedding Ring 2026
Rebecca Hosta - Meadow Portrait - Early July
Janice Lessman-Moss - #509A, Follow the Sun I
Sally Luburgh - Truth and Justice
Sally Luburgh - Wool Jacket with Passementerie trim
Nichole Redinger - Moth Study
Helena Sarah Richardson - Aquarium
Ricki Rosen - Hello
Philip Sarsany - Coral Reef #4
Kate Stratizar - Whispers of a Winter Sky
Key Dates and Information for Artists
Thursday, June 18
Exhibition opening 5:30–7:30 pm. Award ceremony at 6 pm.
Friday, September 11
80th Ohio Annual Exhibition closes.
Tuesday, September 15
Artwork shipped to those artists who shipped their work to the ZMA.
Saturday–Sunday, September 12–13
Artwork pickup 12 to 4:30 pm
Artists unable to pick up their work during this window should email exhibitions@zanesvilleart.org to make an appointment to pick up their artwork.
Meet the Juror
The guest juror for the 80th Ohio Annual Exhibition is Dr. Sarah Spinner. She is an arts leader and museum director whose work centers on partnerships and public-facing cultural initiatives. Since July 2024, she has served as Director of the Kent State University Museum, home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of historic fashion and textiles. In this role, she has led transformational growth in audience engagement and institutional collaboration, positioning the museum for a new phase of scale and impact. Her leadership has been recognized with the 2025 Summit ArtSpace Artist Empowerment Award and the 2023 Ohio Museums Association Professional of the Year Award. Previously, she served as Managing Director of FRONT, where she worked closely with artists on large-scale contemporary projects and also championed accessibility initiatives for people of all abilities. She serves on the board of The Sculpture Center and is a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2026. She believes deeply in the power of arts and culture to connect people across communities, open space for dialogue, and inspire possibility.
Awards
The ZMA’s Executive Director and the 80th Ohio Annual Exhibition juror will present the cash prizes and awards during the exhibition opening Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All award and prize decisions are final and at the discretion of the museum and exhibition juror.
The Best of Show award recipient will receive $1,000
The Ceramics Heritage Award recipient will receive $500
The Janice Ballas Excellence in Fiber Arts award recipient will receive $250.
Awards and prizes will be presented in the following categories:
Best of Show, $1,000
Ceramics Heritage Award, $500
The Janice Ballas Excellence in Fiber Arts, $250
Painting, All Types, $100
Drawing, Prints, and Collage, $100
Sculpture, $100
Glass, $100
Photography, $100