Watercolor USA 2025

Watercolor USA 2025 is a prestigious national competitive exhibition celebrating water media painting. This year marks its inaugural presentation by Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri, after being hosted by the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri, since 1962. Spiva is deeply honored to host this historic exhibition and continue its legacy of showcasing outstanding water media artistry.

The exhibit will run from Saturday, August 23, to Saturday, October 11, 2025, with a special opening reception on Friday, August 22.

Click here to see more information on this historical annual exhibit.

Watercolor USA 2025 is sponsored by           

Cover image: Lana Cease | Chase the Rainbow

AWARDS:

Cash Prizes Awarded by George A. Spiva Center for the Arts:

1st Place| Kenneth M. Shuck Memorial Award -$3,000 | L.S. Eldridge, Hashtag Harmony

2nd Place | Greg G. Thielen Memorial Award – $2,000 | Lana Cease, Out of My Depth

3rd Place | Bill Armstrong Memorial Award – $1,500 | Dongfeng Li, Life of Silver

4th Place | Robert E. Goodier Memorial Award for Traditional Transparent Watercolor, Given by his Children, Winslow & Elizabeth – $1,000 | Chris Krupinski, Bittersweet

Cash & Merchandise Prizes Awarded by Watercolor USA Honor Society:

Gary Cadwallader Memorial Award – $300 | John Keeling, Magpie and Muley

Valerie Wright Memorial Award – $300 | Miles G. Batt, 2, Orchidaceous

Rita Finnegan Memorial Award – $300 | Brian Paulsen, Caution

Cheng Khee Chee Memorial Award – $300 | Ann Pember, Pensive

Kenji Nishikawa Memorial Award – $300 | Jim Whiteaker, Non Eva

Celia Clark Memorial Award – $300 | Mary Jane Mooneyham, Take Out

Award of Excellence – $300 | Rick Boschulte, March Lamb (Sunset)

Award of Excellence – $300 | Vicky Lilla, Pelicans at the Spillway

Award of Excellence – $300 | Lana Privitera, Fortune’s Fickle Whims

Award of Excellence – $300 | Ken Clubb, Stu

Charter Member Richard Clubb Memorial Award, Generously Donated by The Clubb Family – $300 | Dennis McCann, Porch Sitting

J Jie Li WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Michael Holter, The Look from Grannie

WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Lea Magruder, Painters’ Breakfast

WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Mary Jansen, Emerald City

WHS Board of Directors Award – $500 | Thomas Bucci, The River Dart

WHS Donor Award – Art Emporium, Fayetteville, Arkansas – $500 | Trish Poupard, The Drink

WHS Donor Award – Art Emporium, Fayetteville, Arkansas – $500 | Kelly Eddington, Ticket to the Show

Escoda Brushes Merchandise Award – $500 Value | Alisa Shea, Last November 

Daniel Smith Watercolors Merchandise Award – $500 Value | Jim Hubbman, 100 Cranes for Zurbaŕan

Email exhibits@spivaarts.org for more information.