For 7th-12th Grade Catholic School Students
“Accordingly, the whole of Christ’s life was a continual teaching: His silences, His miracles, His gestures, His prayer, His love for people, His special affection for the little and the poor, His acceptance of the total sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of the world, and His resurrection are the actualization of His word and the fulfillment of revelation.”
The life of Jesus reveals the depth of God’s love for us. Because every moment of Christ’s life teaches us something about God, humanity and our call to discipleship, the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education is pleased to announce the theme of the 2027 Catholic School Visual Arts Exhibition as “The Life of Christ.”
We invite Archdiocesan Catholic school students in grades 7–12 to reflect on and draw inspiration from the life of Jesus Christ as they create their works of art. Perhaps students will choose to depict the holy night of Christ’s birth, imagine His hidden years alongside Saint Joseph, portray moments from His public ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, or illustrate a sacred moment with his apostles after His Resurrection.
As students contemplate the life of Christ, we hope this experience will strengthen their faith and draw them closer to the Lord.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Judges will select finalists to showcase their artwork at the Catholic School Visual Arts Exhibition on May 7, 2027, at the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul with Bishop Michael Izen. Various awards will be presented to students.
Finalists’ artwork will serve as the summer exhibition in the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art and then be showcased in the John XXIII Gallery at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.
There will be three grade-level categories:
- 7th-8th grade students
- 9th-10th grade students
- 11th-12th grade students
ELIGIBLE ARTWORK CATEGORIES
- Ceramics
- Drawing (pencil, pen and ink, charcoal)
- Painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil paint)
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Textile
SUBMISSION RULES
For Schools
- Each school can submit an unlimited number of entries.
For Artists
- Work must be completed by a 7th-12th grade student currently enrolled in a Catholic school of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- Artwork must have been completed within the last 12 months.
- Artwork can be completely original or a copy from another work or photograph.
- Use of artificial intelligence (AI) is prohibited in the creation of student artwork.
- Artwork must be signed by the artist.
- Artwork must include a label, typed and printed, with the following information:
- Student’s first and last name
- Student’s grade
- Student’s school
- School city
- Title
- Size
- Medium
On 2-dimensional artwork, the label must be securely taped to the back of the piece; on 3-dimensional artwork, the label must be taped to the base of the piece.
- Artwork must be framed with an affixed wire hanger (nailed in) and ready to hang or display.
- For 2-dimensional pieces, artwork must not exceed 36 inches — including the frame — on any side. For 3-dimensional pieces, artwork must not exceed 36 inches in any dimension and must not exceed 50 pounds.
- 3-dimensional artwork must be self-supporting.
- All artwork must be content appropriate and use the theme, “The Life of Christ” to be considered.
- Please notify our school art department/art teacher about your participation and artwork submission.
- All students and parents/guardians will need to sign a waiver upon submission.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Submissions will be accepted in March. Please check back later for details.
QUESTIONS?
Contact [email protected].