Step into the Spotlight:
Join the 2025 IAMA Youth Art Contest
The International Art Museum of America (IAMA) proudly announces the 2025 Youth Art Contest, inviting young artists aged 5-18 to showcase their creativity on a global stage. Unleash your imagination and artistic talents through the medium of painting and be a part of this extraordinary event!
This contest offers an incredible opportunity for global recognition, winners will be awarded certificates and cash prizes, and participants advancing to the second round will have their masterpieces exhibited at IAMA’s Grand Exhibition Hall. Moreover, exclusive sessions with the Chairman of the Jury Committee, Professor Adam Caldwell of the San Francisco Academy of Art University, will provide invaluable insights to enhance their skills.
Mark your calendars, as the first-round submission deadline is Tuesday, April 25, 2025 (North America) and Sunday, April 20 (Overseas). The exhibition will take place from July 12 to 20, 2025, with the presentation of prizes on Sunday, July 13, 2025. In 2025, IAMA is thrilled to announce that we will be offering an array of additional prizes, recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary talents of our young artists.
A Glimpse into Success: Highlights from the 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest
The 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest was a phenomenal success, receiving over 1,000 entries in the first round from young artists in nine countries. More than 300 participants were selected to enter the second round, with over 400 artworks exhibited in the museum’s 10,000 sq ft Grand Exhibition Hall. The high quality of the artworks and the excitement of the young artists and their families were palpable. As one parent expressed, “It was incredible to think that my nine-year-old daughter’s artwork is being exhibited in the same museum as that of world-famous art masters!”
Please click here to see the 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest and take a 3D Virtual Tour.
2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest Testimonials
“I feel so proud and confident about having the chance to exhibit my artwork at IAMA. I would like to thank my teacher and my family for all the support. I also would like to thank the organization for the opportunity. I will keep doing my best to shine in the world of art.”
— Adalind Bu, Age Group 7-10, 3rd Place Winner, 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest
“To have the chance to exhibit my artwork at IAMA, makes me infinitely grateful. I am proud to know that my own painting is going to be put up in IAMA!! This victory made me remind myself to not go hard on myself and that I am better than how I view myself. It has improved my confidence and self-respect. Because of the help, I am so thankful for this opportunity and motivated to keep pushing forward in the art world. THANK YOU IAMA!”
— Sanchita Devnath, Age Group 11-14, Finalist, 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest
“Participating in this contest has made me more confident in sharing my work with others, which is crucial for my artistic development. Being able to receive feedback on my work is also a great opportunity for my artistic growth.”
—Angelina Chen, Age Group 15-18, Contestant, 2024 IAMA Youth Art Contest
ABOUT IAMA
The International Art Museum of America, located at 1025 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103, is dedicated to bringing world-class artworks and art activities to everyone through art appreciation and education. As a proud part of the San Francisco downtown community, IAMA was hailed by the late Mayor Ed Lee as “a hidden jewel of San Francisco.” With 25,000 sq ft of exhibition galleries featuring hundreds of artworks from 12 countries and five continents, spanning from the 16th century to the present, IAMA provides a global lens for art appreciation and cultural enrichment.
In 2024, IAMA was honored as the “Best Art Gallery” and was a finalist as the “Best Museum” of the Bay Area by SFGate. Dedicated to making art appreciation and education accessible, IAMA believes that “Art is for everyone.” The International Youth Art Contest, held annually as part of IAMA’s International Art Forum, exemplifies this commitment. By fostering connections and engaging with the youth community, IAMA creates a vibrant space where creativity thrives, and every voice is heard.
The 2025 IAMA International Youth Art Contest first-round registration was closed on April 25, 2025. We have received submissions from a very large number of amazing young artists around the globe, including 65 countries across five continents. All entries have been evaluated by the Committee to determine which artists will advance to the second-round competition. Notification emails for the second round have been sent out since May 5, 2025. All selected artists will be in the award-winning contest and have the opportunity to exhibit at the IAMA Grand Exhibition Hall. Please closely monitor your inbox and spam box and follow the instructions in the email if you are selected to register in the second round.
Given the strong interest and exceptional quality of artworks in the first round, we have invited a large number of participants to advance to the second round. As the volume of submissions for the second round remains uncertain, we aim to provide the greatest opportunity for those interested. Therefore, we strongly encourage participants planning to submit multiple pieces to register early in the second-round cycle. We will closely monitor the submission process and, if necessary, may impose a limit of one artwork per participant as the submission period approaches its conclusion.
For people who were not selected for the second round, they will be notified by emails starting from May 7, 2025.