September 2026
Summer Ripples and Sunlight
Competition brief
Capture the radiant beauty of high summer through the play of sunlight and shimmering water. Participants are invited to depict the vibrant, luminous energy of the season—from glistening beach waves to sun-dappled pathways—celebrating light, warmth, and nature's vivid colors.
Winners will receive
Placing in a monthly open call is more than a line on your portfolio — it's real visibility for the work itself.
A winner's certificate
A personalized digital certificate recognizing your placement — yours to download, keep, and share.
A social media spotlight
Your work shared with Unbound's full following on Instagram and Facebook.
A place in our online gallery
Your piece added to Unbound's public exhibition archive — a permanent home for the work, not a one-month feature.
A newsletter feature
Included in that month's newsletter, sent to every designer and subscriber on our list.
An interview as a Featured Artist
A full conversation about you and your practice, published on our Featured Artists page alongside past winners.
Rules & eligibility
Human-made work only
AI-generated artwork isn't accepted and is automatically screened for at submission.
Original ownership
Your entry must be work you personally created and own the rights to.
One image, one entry
A single JPG, JPEG, or PNG file, up to 10MB, per competition.
18 or older
You must be at least 18 years old to enter any Unbound Artist Awards competition.
One entry per person
One account, one entry per competition — duplicate accounts will be disqualified.
Fees are non-refundable
Entry fees aren't refunded once paid, including for AI-flagged or rule-breaking entries.
Closes in
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Deadline: 30 Sep 2026
Entry fees
Until Until 07 Sep
Until Until 23 Sep
Until Until 30 Sep 2026
Please have your artwork ready before entering the competition.
No refunds are issued for submissions that breach open call rules.