Archway Gallery Announces Winners of 18th Annual Juried Competition
Annual exhibition celebrates Houston’s artistic talent and benefits Friends for Life
Archway Gallery proudly announced the winners of its 18th Annual Juried Exhibition during the opening reception on Saturday, July 11. Juried by Donna Tennant, the exhibition features an outstanding collection of works selected from 428 submissions by 218 artists throughout the region.
As in previous years, fifty percent of all exhibition sales will benefit Archway Gallery’s nonprofit partner, Friends for Life, with the remaining fifty percent going directly to the exhibiting artists.
The Annual Juried Exhibition continues to attract an exceptional caliber of work, showcasing the diversity, creativity, and technical excellence of Houston’s vibrant visual arts community. Co-Chair Liz Conces Spencer reflected on this year’s exhibition, saying: “Each year, we’re inspired by the remarkable creativity and talent represented in the submissions. Juror Donna Tennant brought a thoughtful and discerning eye to the selection process, creating an exhibition that celebrates a wide range of artistic voices, styles, and mediums. We’re thrilled to share this exceptional collection with the Houston community.”
This year’s juror, Donna Tennant, who is a longtime art historian, art writer, and editor selected works that demonstrate artistic excellence, originality, and compelling visual storytelling across multiple disciplines. Of the show she said, “The range of mediums, perspectives, and artistic approaches of the more than 200 artists who submitted artwork made the selection process both challenging and rewarding. I spent considerable time with each piece, knowing that it represented hours of thought, effort, and commitment. I wanted the final selections to demonstrate the diversity of the submissions. Together, these artists demonstrate the power of art to connect us all through observation, memory, imagination, and emotion. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as juror of this exhibition.”
Award Winners
First Place: Paula Vento for her acrylic on two canvases entitled This is the Way,
receiving a $500 cash award and guest artist privileges at Archway Gallery during the month of August.
Second Place: Vicky Gooch for her oil on panel entitled Reading Old Books.
Third Place: Karen Knight for her color pencil entitled The Blue Towel.
Honorable Mentions included Alessandra Albin, Maryanne Keeling, Amy Lee, Julie Mahler, and Syalisa Winata.
Co-Chair Becky Soria added: “Congratulations to every artist whose work was selected for this year’s exhibition. The quality of the submissions was extraordinary, and we’re deeply grateful to Donna Tennant for lending her expertise and thoughtful perspective as juror. We also thank everyone who attended the opening reception and continues to support local artists while helping raise funds for animal organization Friends for Life.”
Visit the Exhibition
The 18th Annual Juried Exhibition remains on view through July 30, 2026. There will also be an Artist Forum with an opportunity for participating artists to speak about their work on Saturday, July 25 from 6 – 8 p.m. with live music by Heights Fools on Stools.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday: 1–5 p.m.
Winning artworks and other exhibited pieces are also available for purchase through the Archway Gallery online store. For information about upcoming exhibitions and gallery programming, visit www.archwaygallery.com.
About the Juried Exhibition
Archway Gallery launched its annual juried exhibition in 2009 to expand opportunities for regional artists while supporting Houston nonprofit organizations. Each year, fifty percent of sales from juried works are donated to the gallery’s selected community partner.
This year’s beneficiary, Friends for Life, is a Houston-based animal shelter founded in 2002 whose mission is to save the lives of pets and create lasting connections between humans and pets. The focus is to understand each animal as an individual, find the perfect match for adopters, and provide the support needed to ensure pets thrive in their new homes. For more information, please visit friends4life.org.
The Archway gallery recently celebrated 50 years in Houston’s art scene.
