THB 2026 Awards Presentation

Awards for the 31st Annual Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition and Exhibition. Presented by Neosho Arts Council on Sept. 12, 2026 with this year's judge, Zeek Taylor. Congratulations to the winners of the 31st Annual Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition and Exhibition! • Merit in Mixed Media, Bruce Wachter for The Witness • Merit in Works on Paper, Jared Ean Jennings for It’s Only a Broken Heart • Merit in Watercolor, Rachel Cabral for River Fish • Merit in Acrylic, Sandra Parrill for Myths, Magic and Makers • Merit in Oils, Linda Webster for Calm Water • Mary Ellen Pitts Memorial Pastel Award, Dan McWilliams for Rangers • Third Place Emerging Division, Bailey Harrison for Lucien in Yellow • Second Place Emerging Division, Nan Lien for Valentina in Milan • First Place Emerging Division, Randall French for Blue Truck and Silos • Third Place Professional Division, Debbie Reed for Two for Joy • Second Place Professional Division, Jamie Kelly for As We Pass • First Place Professional Division, Andrew Batcheller for The Coil of the Galah • Best of Show, Rachel Cabral for Taking Flight