The Open Call for the second international competition for young artists Kartina Mira has begun. The organizers announced this on October 8, 2025, at the International Arts Center Glavny Prospect in Ekaterinburg, where an exhibition of the finalists and participants of the first season opened.
During the exhibition’s opening ceremony, the nominations and terms of the second international competition for young artists Kartina Mira were announced.
Applications are being accepted in three categories:
- Graphics,
- Painting,
- Digital Art.
The second competition will include a special category dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the Tretyakov Gallery.
Applications will be accepted until February 2, 2026. You can submit your application on the competition website.
"The first season of Kartina Mira Competition has already proven the high demand for this initiative as a powerful springboard for young talented artists from Russia and all over the world to enter the global fine arts scene," noted First Vice President of Gazprombank (JSC) Andrey Serov. "We are fully confident that the new season will further develop Kartina Mira Competition as a project that opens a unique window of opportunity for young talent to create on the theme of true values."
The competition’s executive secretary, Aleksey Lebedev, announced the new features of the second season: "This year, we decided to expand the Digital Art category by adding the creation of works using neural networks. I’m confident that our Сompetition will become a springboard for young artists, giving them the opportunity not only to establish themselves but also to meet like-minded artists!"
The theme of the second international competition for young artists Kartina Mira is
"The Values of My Nation as Part of the Global Human Culture." Participants will use their works to demonstrate how the history and traditions of their nation influence contemporary art. The competition aims to serve as a bridge between tradition and modernity, past and future, creating a space for cultural exchange and interaction. Young artists will present their works on significant social, cultural, and philosophical themes.
"For the Tretyakov Gallery, participation in Kartina Mira Competition is not just an opportunity to support young artists, but a way to understand how the new generation views its cultural heritage, the traditions of national art, and its importance for the harmonious development of society. We believe that creativity gives birth to genuine dialogue between peoples, and art becomes a universal language of mutual understanding," said Elena Pronicheva, co-chair of the Competition’s Creative Council and General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery.
The expert vote to determine the winners involves several stages: by February 20, 2026, the competition’s Expert Panel will select 100 best applications. The Creative Council will then shortlist 50 works, and finally, in the third stage, 14 finalists, who will have the opportunity to exhibit their works at the Tretyakov Gallery branch in Samara, will be selected. The opening of the finalists' exhibition is scheduled for June 2026.
"The Competition will provide young artists with the opportunity not only to receive a worthy award and display their art works in a renowned museum, but also to take a step toward recognition, which is always important. I’m sure there will be no fewer applications this year than last. And the diversity will be great. We always welcome works with vivid imagery, strong emotions, thoughtful and formally accomplished works, the works that exude skill and youthful energy," commented Semyon Mikhailovsky, co-chairman of the Competition’s Creative Council and Rector of St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts.
