About 2,000 artists from 69 countries competed for 1st to 6th Place in 50 categories (draw, paint, sculpture, digital, photography) in the online 2022 AMERICAN ART AWARDS. USA’s 20 Best Museums and Galleries decided 300+ of the best contemporary artists in the world, who will be revealed in 50+ upcoming feature articles.

The six cash prizes of arguably the most prestigious online art competition in the world go to fine artists in Australia, Italy, USA, Brazil, Lithuania and China, winning in oil, acrylic, charcoal and photography.

“American Art Awards levels the playing field, so all artists have an equal opportunity,” explains president of American Art Awards, Thom Bierdz, TV actor, 12X author and portrait artist, “This is why we send the voting galleries and museums only the artwork images and title, size, mediums used. No photos of the artists or bios are allowed. It’s all about impact.”

The 6 cash prizes for 2022 go to:

BEST OF SHOW: JAQ GRANTFORD of AUSTRALIA for a large oil painting of a standing nude woman shadowed by the crochet blanket she holds, “Intricate Whispers.”

MASTERPIECE: RAFFAELLA USAI of ITALY for the ceremoniously clad jujitsu bearded male, “Shodai Soke Adriano Busa,” done in acrylic, winning in most categories/highest cumulative score.

MOST WINS: USA’s ROBERT MEYERS-LUSSIER for 10 stunning wins in photography.

2ND HIGHEST SCORE: MATHEUS MACEDO of BRAZIL for the charcoal and graphite realistic drawing, “Denzel Washington As Macbeth.”

3RD HIGHEST SCORE: TATIANA CHECHUN of LITHUANIA for a realistic oil still-life, “Forget-Me-Nots.”

4TH HIGHEST SCORE: CHINA’s HAN SHUAI for a large idyllic acrylic painting of a girl and dog in a field of tall flowers, “Waiting Wind.”

Art collectors can see hundreds of winning images and corresponding contact info to all the artists here: https://www.americanartawards.com/2022-winning-artists/

This year’s 20 Best Galleries & Museums asked to vote on art were:

  • BEST IN ARIZONA – Exposures International Gallery Of Fine Art
  • BEST IN ARKANSAS – Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
  • BEST IN CALIFORNIA – Exclusive Collections Galleries
  • BEST IN COLORADO – Mirada Fine Art
  • BEST IN DELAWARE – The Delaware Contemporary
  • BEST IN FLORIDA – MAC Art Galleries
  • BEST IN GEORGIA – Westobou Gallery
  • BEST IN HAWAII – Sunshine Arts
  • BEST IN INDIANA – Lubeznik Center for the Arts
  • BEST IN LOUISIANA – Arthur Roger Gallery
  • BEST IN MICHIGAN – LaFontsee Galleries
  • BEST IN MISSOURI – Hilliard Gallery
  • BEST IN NEBRASKA – Kiechel Fine Art
  • BEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE – Rochester Museum of Fine Arts
  • BEST IN NEW MEXICO – Blue Rain Gallery
  • BEST IN NEW YORK – Center for Exploratory & Perceptual Arts
  • BEST IN OREGON – Bronze Coast Gallery
  • BEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA – Mary Martin Galleries Of Fine Art
  • BEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA – South Dakota Art Museum
  • BEST IN WEST VIRGINIA – West Virginia State Museum

Among other criteria, gallery & museum selections are based on years established, industry reputation, online interest, location, size, socially relevant exhibits, motivational and educational programs, represented artists as well as artist, client and visitor references.

https://www.americanartawards.com/ MISSION STATEMENT: To introduce America’s best galleries to the best artists in the world. To introduce the best artists in the world to America’s best galleries.

AAA had submissions from 69 countries in 2022:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic Of Korea, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.