Bringing a Kinder World to Life Art Contest
Congratulations to our 2021 Winners!
Adult Category:
1st Place: Nahiar Zinat Nokshi (Heart of Peace)
2nd Place: Deborah Camp (United Empathic Reign of Harmony)
Youth Category:
1st Place: Rafaela Penha (Golden Mantella)
2nd Place: Ishi Gupta (Unity)
3rd Place: Marion Lee (untitled)
And thank you to our prize sponsors!
What does a just, compassionate world for people, animals, and the planet look like?
We’re calling on artists of all ages living in the US to submit your original work showing a world in which people, animals, and the planet are thriving and exploitation is no more.
There are two categories:
- Adult (ages 19 and older)
- Youth (ages 18 and younger)
Winners in each category (Adult/Youth) will receive the following prizes:
- 1st place: $50 gift card
- 2nd place: $25 gift card
- 3rd place: $10 gift card
Your artwork may also be used in promotional campaigns for Phoenix Zones Initiative and for social media throughout the year. Please see full contest rules, eligibility, and license information here: Bringing a Kinder World to Life Art Contest Official Rules.
Submissions may be your original digitally-created artwork or digital reproductions of your original paintings, illustrations, photographs, or three-dimensional works.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges. All submissions will be judged based on
- relevance to the theme
- creativity
- emotional impact
- quality of the work
Entries should be submitted by downloading and completing this submission form: (Word or PDF) and emailing the completed form and a digital copy of your original work to marsha@phoenixzonesinitiative.org with the subject line: Kinder World Art Contest Entry.
Physical artwork cannot be accepted.
The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2021.
See official rules and submission form: (Word or PDF).
Our Judges:
Adult Category:
Ignacio Betancourt is a multimedia artist who has focused on making ideas and information about democracy, anti-corruption, gender equality, and social and environmental issues more accessible through his work.
Debra Merskin, PhD, is Professor of Media Studies in the School of Journalism & Communication at the University of Oregon, the author of Seeing Species: Re-presentations of Animals in the Media & Popular Culture, and co-creator of animalsandmedia.org
Colleen Plumb makes photographs, videos, and installations investigating systems that perpetuate power imbalance. Her work is held in several permanent collections and has been widely published and exhibited. Plumb lives in Chicago and has taught photography and video at Columbia College Chicago since 1999.
Youth Category:
Kristina Hulvershorn is a mom and humane educator from Indianapolis, Indiana, who works for HEART as their Indianapolis Program Manager, and for the Peace Learning Center as their Director of Restorative Learning.
Kit Jagoda is an artist and National Board Certified art teacher who has been educating young artists for more than 30 years. She also has an MA in Humane Education and co-founded River’s Wish, an animal sanctuary in Washington state.
Jeannie Russell has served as Director of Service Learning for HEART, an award-winning humane education organization, for over 11 years. She previously worked in many different settings with children and families facing multiple educational and life challenges.
Rowan Spillman is a vegan anti-oppression activist with a background in art, and is a Lead Raven for The Raven Corps, a youth-led movement of changemakers devoted to building a just and sustainable future for animals, humanity, and our natural world.
Thank you to our prize sponsors!
1st place Adult category: $50 cash gift card!
Generously donated by: Tootie’s Tempeh is a worker-owned consumer foods cooperative and the first commercial tempeh producer to ferment sustainably without single-use plastic bags.
1st place Youth category: $50 gift card!
Generously donated by: The Herbivore Clothing Company offers an original clothing line, as well as ethically made, fashionable apparel and a variety of cruelty-free books, accessories, pantry items, and more.
2nd place Adult & Youth categories: $25 gift card
Generously donated by: Virtual Vegfest is a secure shopping platform offering more than 400 plant-based products and services and supporting plant-based and vegan entrepreneurs.
3rd place Adult & Youth categories: $10 cash gift cards
Generously donated by an anonymous supporter of Phoenix Zones Initiative. Thank you!