Calling painters ready to put their work on an international stage—Black Door Gallery invites you to explore the E.SUN Art Awards, a global painting prize established by E.SUN Bank in Taiwan. This is an opportunity to connect your practice to a wider audience, with a competition that celebrates contemporary painting in all its richness, diversity, and conceptual depth.
This year’s award centres around three open and compelling themes:
Mt. Jade — Taiwan’s highest peak (3,952m), offering a powerful starting point for ideas around scale, endurance, landscape, and presence.
Music — from rhythm and movement to mood and memory, this theme invites broad and personal interpretation.
Sustainability — an exploration of environmental care, material consciousness, and the ways we respond to an evolving world.
Each theme is intentionally expansive, giving you space to respond through your own visual language and painterly approach.
Submissions are open to works in oil, acrylic, and gouache, with a focus on originality and contemporary expression. Be sure to review the size requirements and entry details via the registration link.
The International category offers substantial recognition, including a First Prize, up to three Special Prizes, and up to five Merit Awards. Selected artists will receive prize money, official certification, and inclusion in a published collection of winning works. The total prize pool sits at an impressive US$130,000.
Finalists will be announced on 18 September 2026 via E.SUN Bank’s official website, with entries open until 17 July 2026.
Things to consider for the prize: artwork size is not to exceed 72.5 x 91cm, work should be rolled for shipping unstretched if selected, and freight is covered by the artist. The competition will frame locally for display.
Find out more and submit your work here:
https://event.esunbank.com.tw/mkt/drawesun/esunbank_en.html
With a strong commitment to supporting artists globally, E.SUN Bank continues to champion creative voices across borders. Black Door Gallery is proud to support the Awards’ international reach across New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore—encouraging painters to take part in this exciting opportunity to share their work with the world.