PIKTO TOP PICK CONTEST

Win $5000 towards your own Gallery Exhibit

Pikto Top Pick is an opportunity to showcase your talent and get the recognition you deserve. The winner of this photographic competition will receive $5,000 towards the production of a Gallery Show, including an opening reception and a two-month exhibit on one of Toronto’s hottest venues.

View 2011 Entries

Put yourself on the map

A Gallery Show at Pikto is a fantastic way to promote your fine art career, or to begin one. Pikto exhibitors are regularly featured in national and international media, and having an exhibit at a reputable gallery will add credibility and legitimacy to your work. Skip the traditional barriers of the fine art world, submit your best work to Top Pick and show the world what you do best.

Panel of judges

Johan Hallberg-Campbell - Curator, Pikto Gallery

Gina Martin - Image Sales, National Geographic

Brian Morgan - Art Director, Walrus Magazine

You be the judge

View 2011 Entries

Most popular vote based on number of views, number of times rated and average ratings from entire artist submission. Rating is limited to users with valid email addresses.

Contest rules

The winner of Top Pick will be chosen by one vote from each of the judging panel plus one vote for the most popular winner . Top Pick Winner will receive in-store credit for services towards printing and framing a Gallery Show to a maximum of $5000. Opening reception and travel costs for artist alone cannot exceed $1000 each. Most popular winner will receive $1000 in online gift certificates in addition to the vote on the panel. In case of a tie, prizes will be shared equally.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Pikto believes strongly in supporting, strengthening and promoting the photographic community. Every year we host free artist talks, gallery shows and much more. This why we decided to buck the typical trend and create a competition for photographers with no entry fee. We encourage submissions by anyone that takes photography seriously, and is willing to let their work speak for itself. Judges will be looking for overall themes, genuine voice and artistic vision. This is not a contest of "best pics", but one in which each of your 15 images fits into a coherent whole that can be shown at a top gallery. We encourage you to get inspired by the possibility of a gallery show and to create a series specifically for the submission. Even if you don't win, you will have a series of photos you can be proud of.

All submissions must include: 15 images of current work or work intended for exhibition in electronic form. Images should be JPG (1024x768 pixels maximum image size). Use consistent naming and number all images (e.g. 01Smith.jpg, 02Smith.jpg). Do not use dots or special characters in the filenames. One submission per artist. Please ensure that submission is correct before hitting the submit button, editing the submission is not possible. Photos, ratings and comments will appear on the Online Gallery in 24-48 hours. Follow us on Twitter to receive notification of submission. Submission fee: $0. Submission deadline is November 15, 2011 at 11:59PM.

Submitted entries may be used by Pikto to promote Pikto Top Pick. All rights remain with copyright holder. By submitting, you agree that the images are lawfully yours and do not violate any laws. Pikto reserves the right to reject any submissions deemed inappropriate without recourse or explanation. DO NOT SUBMIT IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THESE TERMS.

The 2011 Pikto Top Pick contest is now CLOSED. Stay in the loop to find out who the winners are and to be part of the Top Pick Gallery opening in early 2012.
The next Top Pick 2012 submission entry period begins Spring of 2012.

Submission Deadline

November 15, 2011

CLOSED

Submission Fee

None

Past Top Picks

See Blog entries from the past picks »

Now Showing

Please join us for the opening reception of Anastasia Taylor-Lind's show "The National Womb: Baby Boom in Nagorno-Karabakh". She is the 2011 winner of the Pikto Top Pick competition and will receive $5,000 towards the production of her show.

Her series explores the Birth Encouragement Program in Nagorno-Karabakh, which distributes cash payments to newlyweds for each baby born with the aim of repopulating the region after the devastating 1991-1994 war.

Anastasia Taylor-Lind is an English/Swedish photographer based out of London, United Kingdom. She is represented by the VII Photo Agency.

The show will run from January 5, 2012 - February 29, 2012
Opening reception: January 21, 2012, 6pm-10pm

Learn more >>