Students and artists invited to compete in nude drawing contest
AANR-EF sponsors a spring competition celebrating figure drawing and body-positive education
This spring, the Department of Art at the University at Buffalo is hosting a juried Nude Figure Drawing Competition open to both enrolled drawing students and members of the public who participate in the university’s open figure drawing sessions.
Sponsored by the AANR Education Foundation, the competition supports artistic exploration of the human form while underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to body-positive education and cultural enrichment. Finalists will be exhibited at the Center for the Arts from May 8 to 21, with a public reception and awards ceremony on May 15.
In addition to monetary prizes, winners aged 18 and over will receive a complimentary one-year membership to AANR. Winning works will also be included in the Foundation’s annual Art Raffle, with proceeds supporting student scholarships, grants, and educational programming.
“Art transcends political censorship and theocratic attempts to suppress individuals' freedom of thought and expression,” the call for submissions reads—reminding us that nude art remains a powerful form of creative and social freedom.
While this competition may be limited to students and local artists, its existence speaks volumes. At a time when nudity is increasingly policed online and stigmatized in public life, efforts like this represent meaningful investments in cultural legitimacy. Supporting the AANR Education Foundation’s Art Raffle or sharing news of the competition is a small but impactful way to help keep nude art in the public eye—where it belongs. 🪐
Disclosure: The author receives grant funding from the AANR Education Foundation to support the Naked Age podcast. Although the author also serves on the PR committee for AANR, that organization is separate from the Foundation and was not involved in this article.
Where has this been all my life.