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2024 Olmsted Best in Show Winner - “Watch Your Step” by Neal Hughes

 
 
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Atlanta’s 11th Annual
OLMSTED PLEIN AIR
INVITATIONAL

April 19 - 27, 2025

Atlanta’s 11th Annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, April 19-27, 2025, will feed the senses with beauty, soothe the soul with calm and satisfy each collectors’ zest for original one-of-a-kind work.

  • An idea that blossomed into a nationally recognized top-tier art event, the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational has reason to celebrate in 2025. In its 11th year, the Invitational has hosted some of the top plein air artists in the United States, recruited well-known and highly qualified judges to the competition, has expanded the world of plein air in Atlanta and across Georgia – all while documenting landscapes familiar to us all. Olmsted Plein Air Invitational is excited to host a remarkably strong field of 29 nationally and regionally recognized artists. 

  • Art collectors, enthusiasts, and the curious are invited to share in experiences all week as these talented artists create masterworks depicting scenes from all over Atlanta. Events will include:

    Collectors’ Preview Virtual Gallery Exhibition Opening

    Exhibition Gallery Open Daily - with hundreds of original works of art awaiting your eyes - all available for purchase.

    Artists Welcome Reception

    Artist Talks/Demos

    The Judges Speak - A Panel Discussion

    BIG Petite Reveal

    Awards and Collectors Soiree

    2025 PaintQuick™

  • The week long 2025 Olmsted Gallery will be open to the public daily 10:00 - 4:00 + some evening hours. The Artists bring paintings from home to populate the Gallery starting on day one. Then watch, as the gallery adds and grows each day with fresh paintings produced in Georgia. Plus, Artist Talks/Demos all week. 

    Most activities are complimentary to the public to LEARN, PURCHASE and EXPERIENCE the thrill of seeing a world-class artist create a painting right before your eyes.

  • Our mission is to nurture visual and cultural art education and experience through the art of plein air painting. We do this through events, workshops, lectures, and demonstrations.  Arts education is incredibly impactful and helps broaden the mind, build confidence, and boost creative thinking and problem-solving skills at any age. 


10 Year Anniversary Well Wishes from Our Alumni

 

The PaintQuick™ is a plein air painting competition, exhibit and sale that is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

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Our Mission

The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational & GeoRGia Color Plein Air is made possible with the generous support of our Sponsors, Patrons & Collectors

The mission of Olmsted Arts, LLC is to nurture the visual and cultural art education and experience through the art of plein air painting. We execute this mission through events, workshops, lectures and demonstrations by some of the most esteemed Artists in the USA.

 
The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke.
— Jerzy Kosinski
 
 

READY TO GET INVOLVED?

Award Sponsors

celebrating its 10th anniversary, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational has established itself as one of the top plein air competitions in the country. The Atlanta community can be very proud to host a top-tier event. We strive to lead the way by offering the top purse in the United States.

What is that going to take? A combination of corporate sponsors, individual Friends, painting sales, and award sponsors.

As an award sponsor, you will tickets to evening events, name recognition, VIP entry to view/purchase paintings on the evening awards are presented and discounts on the purchase of a paintings. If you are not shy, we will ask you to come forward and present the award and take a photo of you, the winning artist with painting and our selection judges.

Awards to be presented during the 2024 Olmsted Plein Air Invitational include:

Best of Show Second Place Third Place Bill Selman Spirit of Atlanta Best Use of Light in the Landscape Best Nocturne
Best Architecture Founders Award Judges Awards of Merit (3) Petite Plein Air Artist Choice
PaintQuick (Invited Artists: 1st, 2nd, 3rd); Community Artists (1st, 2nd, 3rd); Youth (ages 16-21; 1st, 2nd, 3rd)

For more information please contact 404-944-3475 or phil@olmstedpleinair.com

DONATE

The Olmsted Plein Air is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is dedicated to nurturing visual and cultural art education and experience through the art of plein air painting.  EIN 81-0836757 

Your donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

 
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THANK YOU

2024 FRIENDS

BENEFACTOR
Martha & Toby Brooks, Ann & Frank Critz, Mary & Greg Ferguson, Joanna & Roger Quillen

RENAISSANCE
Pam & Jim Hughes, Averill & Mark Jones, Del Martin

IMPRESSIONIST
Susan & Stephen Forte, Sandy & Walter Kruger, Laurenthia Mesh, Butchie & Alan Neely, Bea Perdue

PLEIN AIR PRODIGY

Roberta Beatty & Lee Fitzpatrick, Peggy & Henry Hibbert

Artists and Judges Housing Hosts

Catherine Abrams, Jan & Andy Beach, Robin Chalmers, Ann & Frank Critz, Beth & Scott Cullen, Mary & Greg Ferguson, Susan & Steve Forte, Joel Gilmore, Harvin & Tommy Greene, Liz Hanfield, Pam & Jim Hughes, Rene Iverson, Averill & Mark Jones, Del Martin, Vivian Moody, Anne Phillips, Joanna & Roger Quillen, Rosalyn Smith, Mary C. Sutherland, Sarah Catherine Tumble, Lisa Turner

 

2024 SPONSORS

2024 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Virginia Highland Plein Air Painters

 

 2024 MEDIA pARTNERS