American Artists Professional League : 98th grand national exhibition
Date
Location
Exhibition Hours
Monday – Friday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Admission
Open to the public
Free to attend
The American Artists Professional League (AAPL) will present its 98th Grand National Exhibition, bringing together more than 100 artists from across the country in a museum-quality celebration of contemporary and traditional American realism. The exhibition will feature paintings and sculpture in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and drawing, with many works available for purchase.
Opening November 17, 2026, in the Skylight Gallery of the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the exhibition will remain on view through December 4, 2026. The awards reception will take place on Friday, November 20, from 5:30–8:00 p.m., when more than $35,000 in prizes will be awarded. A Finalist Exhibition and Semi-Finalist Showcase will also be presented online at AAPLinc.org.
“AAPL is thrilled to present the Grand National Exhibition once again, bringing together some of the country’s finest contemporary and traditional realists,” says AAPL President Aki Kano. “We are especially excited to continue this longstanding tradition at the historic Salmagundi Club, where AAPL was founded in 1928.”
The 98th Grand National Exhibition is made possible through the generous support of numerous sponsors and partners, including Fine Art Connoisseur, International Artist Publishing, Artwork Archive, Chelsea Classical Fine Art Materials, Dynasty Brushes, Ampersand Art Supply, Daniel Smith, Golden Artist Colors, Holbein, Rosemary & Co., Jack Richeson & Co., and others.
AAPL is honored to welcome acclaimed master portraitist Michael Shane Neal as the exhibition’s Awards Judge. Neal, Chairman of the Portrait Society of America, is renowned for his traditional oil portraits and his ability to capture the character and presence of his subjects through sophisticated use of light, color, and shadow. A protégé of celebrated portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler, Neal began his professional career at age 21 and has completed more than 600 commissioned portraits.
His distinguished subjects include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, President George H.W. Bush, President Joseph R. Biden, Congressman John Lewis, Morgan Freeman, and numerous senators, judges, and governors. His work has earned major honors, and he has taught aspiring artists for more than three decades. Neal maintains a historic studio at the National Arts Club in Manhattan.
The exhibition’s selection jurors are Douglas Aja, Signature Member and award-winning sculptor; Thomas Schaller, Elected Artist Member and internationally recognized watercolorist; Desiree Zaslow, Elected Artist Member and accomplished seascape painter; and William Yenkevich, Signature Member and traditional realist oil painter.
Events on November 21
Fang Sullivan | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
This exhibition will also feature a live portrait painting demonstration by acclaimed pastel portraitist and AAPL Signature Member Fang Sullivan on Saturday, November 21, from 12:00–3:00 p.m. in the Skylight Gallery. The demonstration is free and open to the public. Sullivan is a contemporary pastel and oil painter whose work explores color, light, and the beauty of everyday moments. Born and raised in Beijing by artist parents, she later studied at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League of New York. Her work combines classical Impressionist traditions with a contemporary sensibility, and she is also an instructor with the Pastel Society of America.
Rance Jones | 3:30 PM
Following Sullivan’s demonstration at 3:30 p.m., master watercolorist Rance Jones will give a special talk and book signing exploring the value of social content in painting and the ways artists can use their work to address contemporary social topics. Jones is an American watercolorist recognized for his highly realistic paintings exploring people, culture, and everyday life. Born in Lubbock, Texas, he earned a BFA from the University of North Texas and an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Following a successful career as an illustrator and storyboard artist, he transitioned to fine art, bringing his exceptional drawing skills and meticulous watercolor technique to his figurative work. His paintings frequently examine the relationship between people and their environments, including the social realities of Cuba. Jones is represented by Forum Gallery in New York, and his work is held in private and public collections throughout the United States.
Reception | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar upstairs, with an additional cash bar serving liquor on the lower level.
About the Organization
Founded in 1928, the American Artists Professional League (AAPL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting excellence in American realism. Its curated membership represents artists working across painting, drawing, sculpture, and other traditional media. Prominent past members include Elizabeth Okie Paxton, Rockwell Kent, and Edgar Alwin Payne. AAPL’s mission is to encourage and protect artists’ interests, promote high standards of beauty, integrity, and craftsmanship, and emphasize the importance of education and support for emerging artists. The organization sponsors scholarships for students at the Art Students League of New York and the Art Renewal Center and is allied with the Art Renewal Center, a leading organization in the contemporary revival of realism. Many AAPL members have also been finalists in the prestigious annual ARC Salon competition.
