Artist loses art competition and contacts organizers, judges admit they ruled unfairly

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 24, 2026 5:00 PM EDT

An art competition where the judges don't follow the rules isn't going to end with happy contestants. 

As if making it in this world as an artist isn't already a difficult path, competitions like these just make it harder for artists to succeed. 

Most artists don't make art as their day job — it's more of a side project, since it can be quite difficult to actually make decent money off of the pieces you sell. Plus, some artists just create things for the fun of it. They're creative people who like being inspired by the artsy community around them. 

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  • Artist works on paintings during art competition.
    via Mesut çiçen

    Artist works on paintings during art competition.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • But this person was totally disappointed by the results of a recent art competition, and they're not just sitting back and taking the results as is. Instead, they began emailing around, trying to figure out why the competition played out like this. 

    As they shared in their story below, the rules of this event were that artists had 6 hours to craft a multi-media art piece. There was a rubric in place… but then, the judges kind of changed things up. Honestly, that's a strange situation. Usually, people take these things extremely seriously, and will stick to the rubric closely. 

     

  • Judges of an art competition I entered decided to just throw out the rubric and judge us based on feelings

    I was in a live art competition over the weekend in which we had 6 hours to create a piece under the theme of multi media.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • We were given in advance a rubric and told we'd be graded 0-10 on 5 categories all weighted equally.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • I'm dised and pushed myself past my physical limits to create a massive 3 foot by 5 foot multi media piece to the rubric.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • At the end of the competition we were told with no warning we had to tell the story behind our piece.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • We weren't even told in advance there was supposed to be a story behind our pieces.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • Then when the judges announced the winners they said they decided not to use the rubric and judge based off of who told the best story with use of multi media and who used the most multi media.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • These were the judges own words and not what we were told we'd be graded on at all.
    via CuriousArtFriend

  • I'd be so annoyed too

    I'm honestly annoyed. To have sacrificed my physical health for a competition I didn't even have a chance in because I wasn't judged fairly is really disheartening.
    via CuriousArtFriend

    If the rubric was based on specific art demonstrations, and not the story, that would be completely frustrating for every artist involved. They could've spent time carefully cutting materials, or delicately painting on brush strokes, only for the judges to demand backstory about the piece. Uhhh, if you only have 6 hours to make something, your backstory is going to be a pretty simple one. And it can certainly drive the piece of art you're making, but add that on to the rubric then! That way the creative storytellers in the bunch will get some credit for that. 

    This person should know that they didn't do anything wrong though, and that it's admirable that they put so much effort into the project. 

  • I'm currently in a lot of pain as I recover and will not be entering any contests or shows with this group again.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • I just wish I had known in advance it would be so unfair so I could have saved my health.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • Also to add to the unfairness the judges are people who regularly enter art competitions with this group.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • One of the people competing regularly judges competitions with this group including ones these judges enter.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • Guess who was one of the winners? Just a small conflict of interest. We were also told we had to do all the work on our pieces during the competition.
    via CuriousArtFriend

  • She did her work in advance?!

    The first place winner did part of her work in advance. The hosts of the competition were aware of this and allowed it anyways.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • The judges were aware of this and even said those elements she had done in advance were part of why they chose her piece as first.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • So she was given a massive unfair advantage. I've entered art competitions and not won before but I've never regretted entering one.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • This was so unfair and I sacrificed so much physically for it, I genuinely regret it.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • Young woman in black overalls paints a picture for an art competition while relaxing on the ground outdoors.
    via Caroline Veronez

    Young woman in black overalls paints a picture for an art competition while relaxing on the ground outdoors.

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Edit: For the record I did contact the organizer with my concerns of unfairness, primarily actually that someone was allowed to do work in advance when we were strictly told that was not allowed and they ended up winning because of that.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • That and the massive conflict of interest it was to have judges judging judges. The fact the judges said they didn't use the rubric was more a secondary comment as I didn't actually see the rubrics and am only going off their words.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • Why they would publicly say we decided not to go off the rubric is beyond me.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • And yes they said we decided not to judge based off the rubric but based off of this because there was too many good pieces.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • (which is exactly why you have rubrics) I put my concerns politely in a email so there's a paper trail.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • I'm not sure what I'll do next. It will definitely depend on the response or lack of response from the organizer.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • There was no entry fee, it was a competition to actually get into the live competition, but we were required to provide our own materials and then act like they provided them for us.
    via CuriousArtFriend
  • My ideal resolution would honestly just be getting back the money I spent on materials for the competition.
    via CuriousArtFriend

  • Best wishes to this artist...

    That feels fair. I doubt that would happen though.
    via CuriousArtFriend

    Contacting local news outlets would be a great idea. Even if they don't participate in another contest, helping other artists get more fair treatment in future competitions would be a great idea. And as for them, I hope they don't get too discouraged by all this, and hope that they find a contest that's easier for them to accomplish next time. 

  • Art competition judge listens to contestant explain his vision for his peice.
    via Getty Images

    Art competition judge listens to contestant explain his vision for his peice. 

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