2025 Top Thirty works

Take a look at the top thirty selected works from the competition, accompanied by commentary from RISD professors and critics on each piece.

“ZIT HAPPENS”

Comments from judges

"Grotesque and alluring at the same time. Garish yet beautiful at the same time. I really appreciate the reference materials you got in order to render all areas of this piece. Great "intense" color palette as well. I feel like this piece accurately captures the horrific-ness of teenage changes." "Interesting narrative, the piece is both humorous and disturbing" " Nice concept. Love the expression on the tiny face being "Popped." I wish some of the other faces had similar expressions as far as their impending doom is concerned. They seem way too relaxed for what is about to happen..." "Nice hyperreal sensitivity." "Humorous painting of a relatable subject that is made personal by adding portraits of friends. Would love to see this on an even larger sized canvas. If you haven’t already, check out how Jenny Saville’s figures push against the picture plane to shorten the space between the viewer and the painted figure."

"Dreamer's collection"

Comments from judges

“There is some incredible refinement skills displayed in this piece! Clearly, the artist is a master of value, temperature, and composition. I was shocked when I read it was pastel - and commend the ability to get detail out of such a soft medium! WOW. I'd love to hear more about the symbology used here with the floral and fauna elements, and how it could potentially relate to the vulnerably placed young female. I recognize some flowers that relate to strength, integrity, and perseverance, but I can't help but shake that the living human is almost displayed like a slain animal of the Dutch banquet still lives. Make sure you get a better photo with no distortion and clean edges eventually!” “Ambitious and carefully considered composition with the beginning of a narrative created by the relationship between the figure and the still life. Difficult to see from the digital image, but possibly considering finding color in the various darks to help relate them to more saturated neighboring areas in the drawing. If you haven’t already, take a look at Paula Rego’s pastel portraits.” “Very well executed piece. My only wish is that the object she is holding felt slightly more important in its crafting than the other objects. This would add to a concept of a deeper connection with the figure sitting in this space.” “Very meticulously done work, a little too closely resembles the reference photograph” “I find this composition particularly engaging, as it draws from the rich tradition of the "vanitas" while reinterpreting it through a contemporary lens. The work carries the symbolic depth and contemplative nature of the genre, yet reframes it in a way that feels fresh, personal, and relevant to our present moment. The technique is well executed.”

"Still Life"

Comments from judges

"I value the way you so attentively capture the distinctive qualities and character of each material you work with — whether metal, glass, or fabric. Each medium retains its own voice and tactile identity within the composition, allowing their inherent textures, densities, and reflective or absorbent properties to speak." "Very beautiful handling of multi-directional studio lighting. Incredible attention to detail and mastery of surface - I love the paint handling on the multitude of material, particularly that metallic copper pot in the back left." "Amazing still life."

"Jan Van Eyck (self portrait)"

Comments from judges

"The scoring of 3s should not be seen as negative here - but just a nod to the master copy nature of the piece! I was glad to see a master copy in the line up of selected student works, and I think this is an exemplary example of one. The mastery of handling the light emerging from shadow, the richness of the dark pigments, and the edge and texture control. Fantastic brush control! I would only just suggest to watch the warmer temperatures in the shadow areas of the flesh. I love the way you have it here, but I think there are a lot more cooler hues (such as raw sienna and ceruleans) in the original." "Excellent skill to be able to copy Van Eyck so well."

"Wide-eyed"

Comments from judges

I would have scored this piece much higher, but the presentation was impossible to overcome. When you are presenting your work for any public consumption, you must eliminate any obstacles between your viewer and their best opportunity to view the work. The shadows falling across the piece make it impossible to see the piece as it is meant to be seen. Always crop your work.

“Green"

Comments from judges

"I was struck by the depth and directness of the emotional resonance of this work. The symbolic/conceptual choice of green ( as newness and growth) contradicts itself in such a sophisticated and effective way, reading as strange, alien and "wrong" as applied to the portrait. This productive contradiction, along with the corroding metal substrate, are simply genius choices for visually conveying and materially enacting the process of degradation and aging. The beautifully captured, detailed and clear facial expression of doubt and regret, is a truly impressive accomplishment, that powerfully reinforces the narrative of this portrait. The image of this outstanding and mature work will stay with me." " Excellent portraiture, but would be more affective without the green."

"Untitled"

Comments from judges

"We all need money, and mostly all owe our mothers! I love the artificial glow of the stylized bird here - and this tells me of the self generated or perhaps manufactured type of hope that one may need to summon to rise from a dark place. I love the back and forth between what areas have more render and what areas a left more suggestively... I'd just a few more moments of refinement to the figure's left hand (especially since it's DEAD CENTER). Now go call your mom! ;)"

"Sokcho"

Comments from judges

"Upon first viewing this image, I saw a quiet yet inviting town that was nestled between these two intensely exaggerated (and almost threatening) naturalistic scenes. I was intrigued, and wanted to come in closer to view all of the beautiful details. After reading the description, I really loved hearing about the back and forth between memory and faded experience. The paint strokes and materiality of the paint is really great - the details of the city scene are fantastic - the small cards along the ocean, the rhythmic power lines and house windows, and the glow of artificial light. Perhaps because this composition is so strongly horizontal (almost separating into four bands) there is a heavy pressing weight. I think this is why I felt a sense of threat or doom." "Interesting exaggeration, the sky adds the drama that the painting needs."

"Daydream"

Comments from judges

"Very expressive painting, with a lot of risks taken with the medium" "That you are willing to experiment with the nature of the paint and giving it its own life, separate from the depiction of flowers is exciting." "A fresh painting – seeming effortless handing and active brushstrokes of creamy oil paint."

"People"

Comments from judges

"The brush stroke and energy in this piece has a level of heaviness and opacity that really echo what the description of intent states. It has echoes of past styles as explored in the Mannerists and the Baroque, but still has more current sensibilities. While there is abstraction and suggestiveness, I can really feel the push and pull of real anatomy. Make sure to get a proper photo/scan without sticks or clips on the periphery." "The art work is most true to the concept and depth- excellent. The chaos and the energy are perfect. Not so much the beauty, but the violence and raw human behavior are perfect.. Excellent palette." "Very dynamic composition and concept, good use of color and textures."

"Crawling Rot"

Comments from judges

"This work presents a fascinating concept and skillful execution. It carries echoes of the vanitas tradition, with its symbolic meditation on time and mortality, yet it is also infused with a sense of Surrealist influence. The technical quality is consistently high, demonstrating a strong command of the medium, while the conceptual approach reflects a notable degree of creative freedom."

“RISD Friends"

Comments from judges

“Rhythm created by repeated verticality of legs creates a strong composition moving left to right and back again. Details in the clothing, posture, and tattoos contribute to personality of each figure, and combined with the saturated pink ground, provides insight into the artist’s sense of youthful fun and humor.”

“Pearls”

Comments from judges

“This is an intriguing painting, particularly in the way it seems to pay homage to the Baroque tradition. The composition carries a sense of drama and theatricality characteristic of that movement, yet it interprets these qualities in a personal and contemporary way. The use of chiaroscuro is especially noteworthy: the interplay of light and shadow is handled with sensitivity and precision, giving the image depth, atmosphere, and a strong sense of three-dimensionality. Technically, the work is skillfully executed.” “Impressive 5/5“

"Meditation"

Comments from judges

There's no comments for this piece of work

“Keep Your Feet on the Ground”

Comments from judges

"I kept coming back to this piece, and every time I was more and more drawn into it. There's a sort of intense saccharine quality to this that is not only inviting but off-putting at the same time. There's a fun push and pull between realism and "cartoon" that makes the viewer understand this is about both the real and imagined aspects of childhood. I really feel like you are just starting to explore with the change in style of the two elements, and would strongly encourage you to keep pushing that duality - perhaps with a saturation shift or medium change? I love the childlike break of the edge of the canvas as well - hinting to the childlike creativity being uncontrollable - while all sitting on a control square composition. Really quick suggestion might be to add to the visual depth of the composition by moving the rigid figure on the left to perhaps behind the playground sphere?" " Beautifully conceptually realized meeting of reality and a more cartoony world. For me, the cartoon world is exciting and beautifully depicted. I find the more naturalistic figures slightly out of place. I almost wish they felt like they were stickers, stuck on to this space. I feel there is a relationship between the naturalistic figures and the more cartoony world that needs a slight nudge into better harmony." "Dynamic composition, interesting use of color"

“BRACE FACE”

Comments from judges

"The play of the distortion of the artist's face is really well felt and rendered in this piece. The soft grittiness of the flesh-tones also gives a beautiful but unsettling feeling as well. Because the faces on the braces are so specific, I feel like there is a more personal narrative to the larger "artist's" world - I would love to hear more especially since those faces have a varying interaction with the viewer."

"Untitled"

Comments from judges

"I am drawn to this piece by the beautiful handling of the subtle color palette, play of depth of field, and the artistic choices on what parts to pull from observation and allow emotional render to take over. Very nice movement of the compositional elements and drawn textures."

"Untitled"

Comments from judges

" The dramatic shift from light to dark and the wall of intertwined fingers pushing against the picture plane gives a nice sense of tension. Also nicely nuanced changes in temperature as the skin is painted in cooler green yellows to warmer oranges and pinks to purple-red form shadows. The imperfect edges of the nail polish provide some subtle character in this self-portrait." "The attention to detail and the mastery of oil paint here is quite impressive. I like the moments where you are deciding to refine the detail and the other areas where you are using the softness of the oils to express the luminosity of light on the flesh. Insanely good value, color, and temperature control." "Skill and abilities way beyond your years." "Nice cropping and composition"

“Self Perfection ”

Comments from judges

"Interesting concept, the piece is very evocative, good composition"

"The lady in the wind"

Comments from judges

"This is an extraordinary photograph — so much so that, at first glance, I mistook it for a painting. The composition is exceptionally strong, carefully balanced in a way that draws the eye seamlessly through the image. The technical execution is equally impressive, with a refined control of light, focus, and tonal range that enhances the work’s visual impact. would have appreciated more detailed technical information in the description."

"Untouched Wild"

Comments from judges

"Lovely experimental vignette of a landscape. My only wish is that compositionally, the edge of the vignette felt more intentional. The border around the landscape feels somewhat unresolved compared to the lovely work done within the landscape." "Good experimentation with the medium, the landscape has a strong sense of mood"

"Tactics"

Comments from judges

"What I value most is the expressiveness and the penetrating gaze of that face. It conveys a wealth of emotions, drawing the viewer in and establishing a direct, almost intimate connection. There is something in the look — both vulnerable and compelling — that invites us to linger and engage with the work on a deeper, more emotional level. The pencil technique is fully consistent with the concept: the lines are charged with expression, carrying not just form but mood and nuance." "The placement of the pill bottle and how it feels like both the bottle and even an ice pack or something you put on your skin for relief is quite striking. That the bottle seems to glow with its own light beautifully takes what the visual language can do to emphasize the idea." "Great use of color pencil and colors in the face"

"Skeleton Study"

Comments from judges

"The piece draws the viewer in, interesting use of folds, good sense of form and depth."

"Still Life"

Comments from judges

"Expertly conveyed the delicacy of gauzy cloth next to solid vessels and objects of metal and glass." "Excellent still life."

"Still life"

Comments from judges

"I value your technical skill and the precision with which it is applied. I find it particularly interesting how a narrative emerges through the transparency of the glass, allowing layers of meaning to be perceived simultaneously. I also appreciate the observational subtlety at play — the way you capture and highlight faint, almost imperceptible details, giving them presence and significance." "What I find exciting in this piece is your willingness to moderate some of the detail and information. You could have overwhelmed us with all of the information of the objects but some of it you chose to deemphasize, and that is what makes this piece work." "Excellent still life."

"Memory"

Comments from judges

"This is an exceptionally strong work. The loving and nostalgic emotional resonance is maturely expressed through subtleties of light, composition and portrayal of the interaction of the mother with her babies. I am impressed that the young artist created this composition from multiple reference photographs. The nuance and specificity with which the composition and visual design of light, color and atmosphere come together, is communicating a depth of experience of love, family and the passage of time, making it present and real for the viewer. Outstanding work!" "good technique but does not go beyond the photo" "This artist has abilities way beyond their years. Rather perfect- everything."

"Jodhpur Woman"

Comments from judges

"Nice composition. Excellent palette. Evokes the human condition/environment extremely well."

"Untitled"

Comments from judges

"This painting has a cinematic quality, as if from a film still."

"Komorebi"

Comments from judges

"There's no comments for this piece of work "

"Between Centuries"

Comments from judges

"Thoughtful use of allegory with artist’s own individual story, combined with skillful use of achromatic palette for dramatic effect. If you haven’t already, check out how painter Kyle Staver uses Greek and Roman mythology and lighting to tell her own stories." "Interesting choice of monochromatic palette, strong sense of movement and composition, good use of texture"

"Untitled "

Comments from judges

"I'm really enjoying the limited palette decisions in this piece. The conversation of warms and cools very nicely guides they eyes around the composition, and has a nice timing where I start with the central figure, lift upwards to the all seeing eyes, and then travel down through the yarn and into the hands. While the subject matter is of fabric and yarn, it has very strong echos of flesh, veins, arteries, and blood. Maybe this was intentional!"

"Memorial"

Comments from judges

"The muted palette, short brushstrokes, and circular composition are a nice reference to mosaics, while also using highly personal subject matter."

"The Uglies "

Comments from judges

"There's no comments for this piece of work "

"Espiralize-se"

Comments from judges

"There's no comments for this piece of work "

"Mi Ciudad ( My City)"

Comments from judges

"I greatly value the cultural imprint that emerges from this work, as well as the thought-provoking tension between its title, Mi Ciudad, and the imagery it presents — a human figure intertwined with ghostly, almost spectral presences. I am also intrigued by the compositional dynamics: certain elements assert themselves with a strong, almost anchored presence, while others are rendered with transparency techniques that give them a an immaterial quality. This interplay between solidity and evanescence creates a layered visual experience, where the tangible and the intangible coexist, deepening the work’s emotional and conceptual resonance"