2026 Teen Art Exposition: ADVENTURE

Every year in April, the Livermore Public Library hosts the Teen Art Exposition, showcasing the talent of Livermore’s teen artists. This year’s theme is: ADVENTURE. This is a judged competition, with local artists and public figures featured on the judging panel.

Important Dates

• First day to submit artwork: Sunday, March 1, 2026, 12 p.m.
• Last day to submit artwork: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 4 p.m.
• First day of art expo: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 12 p.m.
• Art expo reception: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.
• Last day of art expo: Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.
• First day to pick up artwork: Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Last day to pick up artwork: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Official Rules

• The library will be accepting artwork submissions from Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 4 p.m. Please bring your submission and completed entry form to the Information Desk at the Civic Center Library. 

• The artwork will be displayed as space allows in the Art Gallery at the Civic Center Library from Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to Thursday, April 30, 2026.

• Livermore students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to submit a piece of artwork for the exhibition.

• Artists may enter one piece of artwork as either an individual or a team. However, team members may not also enter as individuals.

• Artwork is limited to 2-D pieces that can be hung on a gallery wall. Artwork must be framed and/or matted with a suitable hanging system. Artwork with inadequate hanging systems will not be accepted. (Please see below for details).
  
  
• All submissions must also be accompanied by an artist’s statement explaining the inspiration and idea behind the artwork on one of these cards:
  • Teen Artist Statement - Middle School
  • Teen Artist Statement - High School

• To ensure that the maximum number of submissions can be displayed, the following size restrictions are in place:
  • Submitted artwork can be no larger than 18” x 24” (mat and/or frame included).
  • Submitted artwork will be no smaller than 4” x 6” (mat and/or frame included).

• Artwork must be entered into one of the following categories:
  • Drawing (pen and ink, pencil, or pastels)
  • Painting (acrylic or watercolor)
  • Photography (digital or traditional film)
  • Mixed Media (any combination of techniques)

• All submitted categories will be judged at two levels. Level 1 would be for works submitted by students in sixth through eighth grades, and Level 2 for works submitted by students in ninth through twelfth grades. Ribbons will be awarded for best of show in each level, and each category will also have winners in first, second, and third places. 

• Judges will be looking for the following qualities when evaluating the artwork:
  • Visual impact
  • Creativity
  • Adherence to theme
  • Composition

• An art reception will be held on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in the Civic Center Library, Community Rooms. Artists and members of the community are welcome to attend. Teen artists in attendance may enter to win a prize drawing. Must be present to win the prize drawing.

• After the exposition, the artwork may be picked up starting Saturday, May 2, 2026. The library will keep the artwork no later than Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Acceptable Hanging Methods

Artwork submissions must be equipped with a suitable hanging system. Artwork without a suitable hanging system will not be accepted. In the past, submissions with inadequate hanging systems have fallen off the gallery walls. The library has instituted these rules in order to protect artists’ submissions from damage and to ensure that they hang properly in the gallery.

Artwork will be hung from a single hook per piece (pictured above). Hanging mechanisms must be centered on the back of the artwork's frame or mat, and they must be big enough to accommodate the gallery wall hooks.
 

A wire hanging system, like the one above, is strongly preferred for framed artwork. Hooks are firmly mounted to the frames, with wire looped between the hooks. This type of mounting allows greater flexibility when the artwork is displayed in the gallery. It allows us to adjust the artwork so that it hangs level on the wall.

Please see the following video for instructions on how to install a wire hanging system on a frame:

 
Sawtooth hangers and d-rings (pictured below) are also acceptable hanging systems, with reservations. Some frames can be purchased with these devices already attached. However, some sawtooth hangers or d-rings may not have openings large enough to fit on the hooks used in the library’s art gallery. A spare hook will be kept at the information desk during the submission period if you wish to test your hanging system before submitting your artwork.

Adhesive hangers, like the one pictured below, are only acceptable for matted artwork. In our experience, these adhesive hangers are not strong enough to support framed artwork. If using an adhesive hanger, please limit the total size of your artwork to no larger than 11” x 14” (mat included).

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