Traditional fine artists and art enthusiasts around the world look forward to the NTD International Figure Painting Competition (NIFPC).
Over 300 fine artists—amateurs, students, and professionals alike—from 51 countries submitted more than 400 oil paintings to the “Seventh NTD International Figure Painting Competition (NIFPC).” Judges were impressed with the number and overall quality of entries. They selected 60 artists’ works, a total of 82 oil paintings, for the finalists’ exhibition, which will be held at the Salmagundi Club in New York City from Jan. 20 through Jan. 24, 2026.
Upholding the Western Art Tradition
NIFPC manager Zhu Xueye believes its focus on traditional figure painting and its philosophy of “purity, goodness, and beauty” sets it apart from other art competitions. Artist Ken Goshen agreed. When he won an honorable mention at the sixth NIFPC, he said: “This competition is really unique in that it places an emphasis on really classical aesthetics and ideals of truth and beauty.”Since 2008, the competition has championed its mission for the “pure truth, pure kindness, and pure beauty of traditional oil painting.” It’s one of a series of international arts and cultural events hosted by NTD Television, The Epoch Times’ sister media. All these events celebrate age-old traditions.
Like the great masters of the past, competition entrants must paint original compositions directly from life. Entrants may use photographs only as reference points. Competition organizers therefore encourage entrants to create figure paintings that “ennoble the human spirit” by highlighting hope, traditional values, and universal ideals such as beauty, virtue, and benevolence.
It’s an ethos that NIFPC award-winning artist Clodoaldo Martins embodies when he paints. “The most important thing is to bring good messages, a narrative that brings good energy to people,” he said.
Reviving the Goodness of Great Art
The seventh NIFPC finalists’ artworks cover a wide range of subject matter, including faith, self-portraits, and social gatherings. Martins’s multi-figure painting “Tales of Wisdom” depicting a grandfather figure reading a story to children, made the final cut.Like Martins, artist Louise Lu chose to paint children. In “The Joy of That Winter Day,” two children are sledding.
Some entrants, like Yuehua He, chose to paint a historic figure. He depicted the splendor of Qing dynasty Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908). Before putting paintbrush to canvas, He extensively researched the empress dowager’s dress and demeanor using photographs and historical accounts before creating his own composition.
Other competition finalists painted different forms of faith. Kenneth Young’s self-portrait “The Artist’s Prayer” reflects the importance of faith in his life and art. In the painting, he sits at a table praying in front of a finished work.
Vu Thuy’s painting “Fate” features a boy’s faith. He stands in the doorway of a wooden hut cradling the book “Zhuan Falun,” the main teachings of Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is a Buddhist practice based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
In “The Widow’s Mite,” Kenneth Corbett depicted the biblical teaching of a poor woman and her children in a temple, making a meager offering of pennies. Jesus told his disciples that she had sacrificed more than the rich people, who had plenty.
In addition to having their work exhibited at New York’s prestigious Salmagundi Club, all finalists have been invited to attend a series of expert seminars and museum and gallery tours during the week of the exhibition. This is part of NTD International Figure Painting Competition’s ongoing support of traditional art and culture.
On Jan. 22, the competition winners will be announced in an award ceremony at the venue. Prizes include a $10,000 gold award, two $3,000 silver awards, three $1,500 bronze awards, and several $1,000 award categories for profound humanity, outstanding youth, and outstanding technique.
