Current Exhibition

Our 8th Art competition “Animals” started in December 2024 and concluded on January 02, 2025. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: Belgium, Australia, France, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Italy, UK and China. The Animals theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, scratchboard, digital art, photography, pen and ink, stainless steel). The following evaluation criteria has been used for judging the artwork: creativity, interpretation of the theme, originality and quality of art, overall design, demonstration of artistic ability, and usage of medium. Jury decided to select 70 artworks for inclusion in the exhibition. Aside from First, Second, and Third place Jury also presented Merit awards and Honorable Mention awards.

Thank you, and enjoy the exhibition!

First place

Statement:

Passionate about nature, animals and drawing All my life I have had a huge passion for animals and everything that has to do with nature. Ever since I was a little toddler all I wanted to do was draw 'critters'. However, shortly after my training as a graphic designer, I put the pencils aside and took a completely different path professionally. Until a few years ago someone asked me if I wanted to make a portrait of his dog, then a second portrait followed, and I've been unstoppable ever since... I spend as much time as possible outdoors, preferably in the forest where I observe and photograph nature in peace and quiet. I strive to convert my passion for animals into realistic portraits where I try to approach the character of the animal as much as possible. Images say so much more than words. In my art, I try to make the viewer aware of the beauty of all living beings. I often draw endangered species and want to include a message. A message of awareness of the threats that hang over many of these species. The viewer has to want to touch the animal, to feel it.

Statement:

Jason Shih was born in 1972 in Taiwan. In 1991, he began to specialize in metal sculpture when he was a sophomore in the Fine Arts Dept. of Taipei National University of the Arts. In 2001, he graduated from School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, and majored in Metal Sculpture. And then, he served as the metal sculptor Albert Paley's assistant, involved in crafts and public art work practices. Furthermore, he earned his Art Ph. D. from China Academy of Art, China (2015). Now, he lives in Taiwan, and consistently engages in the both areas of sculpture and public art. Jason Shih’s artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion. He cites German choreographer Pina Bausch and British designer Alexander McQueen as significant inspirations. Bausch’s explorations of time and space resonate with Shih’s interest in sculpture’s capacity to embody kinetic energy and spatial imagination. McQueen’s innovative approach to contemporary imagery and themes provides Shih with a broad canvas for creative expression.

Statement:

Shawna Hinkel is a Master Photographer from Dallas, Texas. She has a B.S. in Journalism from Texas A&M University, and has been a professional photographer since 2004. She earned her PPA Certification in 2014 and PPA Master of Photography degree in 2019. She was awarded Life Membership in Dallas PPA in 2020, and earned her Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery degree in 2021. In 2023, she became the second Master of WPE from the U.S., and also became a Master Photographer in Fine Art from MPI. Her work has been accepted into the PPA International Photographic Competition Annual Exhibition since 2016. She was the Dallas PPA Photographer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and was named as one of the Top 10 photographers in Texas in 2020. She received the American Society of Photographers’ State Elite Award in 2020. She serves as 2025 President of Texas PPA and Co-Editor-in-Chief/Copy Editor of ASP Magazine. There are so many wonderful animals in the world. Some are jovial and funny; some are shy and reserved. It is amazing to watch them interact with each other and observe how much like humans they are.