When an international art gallery sifts through thousands of submissions to crown nearly 600 winners, it’s worth paying attention to what emerges from the creative chaos. TERAVARNA’s latest juried competition didn’t just reward technical skill—it spotlighted how contemporary artists are reimagining our relationship with the animal kingdom, from playful coyote pups to symbolic buffalo.
Arielle Kiepke | Symbiosis | Acrylic | USA
Francene Levinson | Tokitae(Nice Day, Pretty Colors) | Sculpture | USA
Teresa Huculak | Hunter's Landing | Oil | CANADA
Sam Yeates | Buffalo Memories | Oil | USA
TERAVARNA named 594 winners from 42 countries in its 14th Animal Juried Art Competition, with Christine Crozier taking 1st prize for ‘Coyote Xing’.
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — TERAVARNA, an international art gallery based in Los Angeles, has built its reputation on connecting artists across borders through biweekly juried competitions. The gallery does more than hand out cash and prizes—it provides a platform where winners gain the kind of global visibility that can make or break an emerging career, with participants vying for both recognition and a permanent spot on TERAVARNA’s digital walls.
This August, the gallery wrapped up its 14th ANIMAL Juried Art Competition to an overwhelming response. Artists from around the world submitted their pieces for review by a professional jury, with strong turnout from both emerging and established talents. In the end, 594 artists hailing from 42 countries took home prizes across various categories for their inventive animal-themed works.
TERAVARNA revealed the cash prize recipients of the 14th International Animal Art Competition, spanning first prize, runners-up, merit prize winners, talent prize honorees, honorable mentions, and finalists. The gallery expressed gratitude to every entrant for sharing their innovative animal-themed creations, portraits of wild creatures, and depictions of natural habitats through contemporary perspectives, noting the competition had become an inspiring global exhibition of animal artworks.
Christine Crozier (USA) claimed first prize with her oil painting ‘Coyote Xing,’ which captures the tender curiosity of three playful coyote pups nestled in their natural surroundings.
The two runners-up, Arielle Kiepke (USA) and Francene Levinson (USA), portrayed the wonder and wild allure of the animal world in Symbiosis and Tokitae (Nice Day, Pretty Colors), respectively.
The Merit Prize went to three artists: Phil Hayes (Australia) for As One, They Saw—an oil painting of a Tasmanian Wolf; Sam Yeates (USA) for Buffalo Memories—a portrayal of a native animal that stands as a cultural symbol; and Teresa Huculak (Canada) for Hunter’s Landing—a captivating image of a bird of prey.
Fifty artists received the Talent Prize for their impressive animal-themed works and contemporary interpretations.
Beyond the headline winners, the competition’s scope was vast. TERAVARNA reported that 594 artists from 42 countries earned prizes across various categories, a testament to the global reach of animal-themed art. The gallery’s professional jury panel evaluated submissions from both emerging and established artists, with the resulting winners’ gallery showcasing work that spans acrylics, oils, sculpture, and more.
First prize went to Christine Crozier (USA), whose oil painting ‘Coyote Xing’ captured the tender curiosity of three playful coyote pups nestled in their natural surroundings. The two runners-up, Arielle Kiepke (USA) and Francene Levinson (USA), portrayed the wonder and wild allure of the animal world in Symbiosis and Tokitae (Nice Day, Pretty Colors), respectively.
The Merit Prize went to three artists: Phil Hayes (Australia) for As One, They Saw—an oil painting of a Tasmanian Wolf; Sam Yeates (USA) for Buffalo Memories—a portrayal of a native animal that stands as a cultural symbol; and Teresa Huculak (Canada) for Hunter’s Landing—a captivating image of a bird of prey.
Fifty artists received the Talent Prize for their impressive animal-themed works and contemporary interpretations.
Beyond the top honors, TERAVARNA’s judging panel recognized a broad spectrum of talent. The gallery extended its sincere thanks to every participating artist for sharing their innovative animal-themed creations, portraits of wild creatures, and depictions of natural habitats through contemporary perspectives, and for turning this competition into an inspiring global exhibition of animal artworks.
First prize winner Christine Crozier (USA) captured the tender curiosity of three playful coyote pups nestled in their natural surroundings in her oil painting ‘Coyote Xing.’ The two runners-up, Arielle Kiepke (USA) and Francene Levinson (USA), portrayed the wonder and wild allure of the animal world in Symbiosis and Tokitae (Nice Day, Pretty Colors), respectively.
The Merit Prize went to three artists: Phil Hayes (Australia) for As One, They Saw—an oil painting of a Tasmanian Wolf; Sam Yeates (USA) for Buffalo Memories—a portrayal of a native animal that stands as a cultural symbol; and Teresa Huculak (Canada) for Hunter’s Landing—a captivating image of a bird of prey.
Fifty artists received the Talent Prize for their impressive animal-themed works and contemporary interpretations. In addition to featuring the names in the Winners’ Gallery, TERAVARNA hosted an immersive virtual reality showcase for the cash prize winners from the 14th International Juried Animal Competition. The animal art exhibition honored artists who have devoted their talent, technique, and dedication to exploring the intricacies and vicissitudes of the untamed animal kingdom.
Winners are also promoted on global marketplaces such as Artsy, boosting visibility that can be crucial for building an artist’s reputation and goodwill. TERAVARNA further promoted the winners across its different social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube, connecting them with an international community of artists and collectors.
Winners of the 14th ANIMAL Juried Art Competition were also announced in TERAVARNA’s email newsletter.
TERAVARNA looks forward to many more memorable editions of its international juried art competitions, as artists continue to explore the beauty, character, and spirit of the wild, alongside the world of domesticated animals, through their own contemporary lenses.
About TERAVARNA: Based in Los Angeles, TERAVARNA connects artists worldwide through themed juried competitions, online and physical showcases, solo exhibitions, and an online marketplace for buying and selling artwork. Through its philanthropic wing, the TERAVARNA Foundation, TERAVARNA supports creativity across geographical borders. To date, it has awarded more than $203,700 in cash prizes to artists representing over 138 countries, making it a prominent presence in the global creative scene.
The competition’s scale is staggering: 594 winners hailing from 42 different countries, all vying for recognition in a field that spans oil paintings, acrylics, and sculpture. First prize went to Christine Crozier (USA) for her oil painting ‘Coyote Xing,’ which captures three coyote pups in their natural habitat. The two runners-up, Arielle Kiepke (USA) and Francene Levinson (USA), were recognized for their works Symbiosis and Tokitae (Nice Day, Pretty Colors), respectively.
Beyond the top honors, the Merit Prize went to Phil Hayes (Australia) for As One, They Saw—an oil painting of a Tasmanian Wolf; Sam Yeates (USA) for Buffalo Memories—a portrayal of a native animal that stands as a cultural symbol; and Teresa Huculak (Canada) for Hunter’s Landing—a captivating image of a bird of prey. Fifty artists received the Talent Prize for their impressive animal-themed works and contemporary interpretations.
TERAVARNA didn’t stop at the virtual gallery wall. The cash prize winners were featured in an immersive virtual reality showcase, and their work was promoted across global marketplaces like Artsy, as well as the gallery’s social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. Winners also saw their names announced in TERAVARNA’s email newsletter, connecting them with an international community of artists and collectors.
The competition’s reach was vast: 594 artists from 42 countries won prizes across various categories, with submissions evaluated by a professional jury panel. Beyond the top honor, the gallery awarded merit prizes to Phil Hayes (Australia) for ‘As One, They Saw,’ Sam Yeates (USA) for ‘Buffalo Memories,’ and Teresa Huculak (Canada) for ‘Hunter’s Landing.’ Fifty artists received the Talent Prize for their contemporary interpretations.
TERAVARNA, based in Los Angeles, has now awarded more than $203,700 in cash prizes to artists from over 138 countries since its founding. The gallery’s philanthropic arm, the TERAVARNA Foundation, continues to support creativity across borders, and this year’s competition drew entries from emerging and established artists alike.
The 14th ANIMAL competition’s winners were showcased in a virtual reality exhibition and promoted across global marketplaces like Artsy, as well as TERAVARNA’s social media channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
Why it matters: As traditional galleries tighten their walls, TERAVARNA’s model of biweekly juried competitions and digital showcases is proving that global visibility—not just prize money—can be the real currency for emerging artists. With over $203,700 awarded to date across 138 countries, the gallery is quietly building a blueprint for how art communities can thrive beyond geographic and economic borders.
