World’s Best Contemporary Oil Portraitists: BRENNAN, EARLEY, BRUNI, ZHENHUA, EGG, UMOH, ZHOU, ZHANG, GOODHALL, PILEWICZ & KUPERMAN / 2024 AMERICAN ART AWARDS
Artists from 64 countries competed in the 2024 AMERICAN ART AWARDS where 20 of the most revered galleries in the USA were sent online images to score in drawing, painting, sculpture, digital and photography. The 300+ winning works, 1st to 6th Place (and ties) in all 50 categories, will be featured in an upcoming movie and 75 articles.
See all winning images:
Art collectors can see the hundreds of winning artworks and corresponding contact info to the best contemporary artists in the world here: https://americanartawards.com/2024-winning-artists-american-art-awards/
The WINNERS in CATEGORY 1 — OIL/FIGURE represent UK, ITALY, CHINA, AUSTRIA, NIGERIA, USA & POLAND.
BIO OF 1ST PLACE WINNER: Frank Brennan is an Irish artist who uses photorealism and abstraction to illuminate themes of identity, belonging, and transformation. Living in London for over 40 years, he draws on his personal journey of migration and self-discovery to create art that resonates with universal experiences of change and adaptation.
With a rich background in theatre, Brennan brings storytelling into his paintings. He allows the narrative behind each piece to dictate its style — choosing photorealism to capture intricate realities or embracing abstraction to evoke deeper emotions. This approach engages viewers both visually and emotionally, inviting them into a dialogue with his work.
Brennan’s art encourages reflection on personal experiences and the multifaceted layers of human existence. As an artist with an international perspective, he explores the connections between culture, self, and society — creating works that transcend borders and speak to the shared essence of humanity. Through his art, he aims to highlight the universal journey of transformation that unites us all. www.frankbrennan.art
CONTACT THE ARTISTS:
CATEGORY 1. OIL — FIGURE
1st Place FRANK BRENNAN UK www.frankbrennan.art “The Brazilian” 30.5x30.5cm Oil on Gesso-board.
2nd Place — Tie JAMES EARLEY UK www.jamesearleyartist.com “Rule, Britannia” 16x24” Oil on canvas.
2nd Place — Tie AURELIO BRUNI ITALY info@aureliobruni.com “Il Giusto Mezzo” 60x100cm Oil on canvas.
3rd Place — Tie ZHONG ZHENHUA CHINA 985151719@qq.com “Youth” 30x30cm Oil on linen.
3rd Place — Tie MARGIT C. EGG AUSTRIA https://www.instagram.com/ma.rgit7414/ “Winter Sun” 70x90cm Oil on canvas.
4th Place — Tie ABASIAMA HENRY UMOH NIGERIA abasiamaumoh670@gmail.com “Grace III” 30x20” Oil on canvas.
4th Place — Tie + MASTERPIECE: WON IN 4 CATEGORIES ANGELA ZHOU USA angelazhou2026@gmail.com “Laboratory Study” 36x30” Oil on panel.
5th Place — Tie YILUN ZHANG CHINA https://www.instagram.com/loveducking1992 “Black Pearl” 90x70cm Oil on canvas.
5th Place — Tie PETER GOODHALL UK www.petergoodhall.com “Liberty” 48x24” Oil on linen canvas.
6th Place — Tie ANNA RUTA PILEWICZ POLAND www.facebook.com/ferneyeart “Portrait Of Nina” 60x80cm Oil on canvas.
6th Place — Tie EUGENE KUPERMAN USA http://www.kuperart.com “Rwanda” 30x40” Oil on linen.
In 2024, AMERICAN ART AWARDS had submissions from these 64 countries: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Congo Democratic Republic, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (Republic, South), Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tobago, Togo, Trinidad, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam, USA, Zambia.
American Art Awards 20 Best Galleries & Museums for 2024 (in alphabetical order by state) asked to score art:
BEST IN ARIZONA: Exposures International Gallery Of Fine Art
BEST IN COLORADO: Mirada Fine Art
BEST IN CONNECTICUT: Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM)
BEST IN FLORIDA: MAC Art Galleries
BEST IN IDAHO: Capitol Contemporary Gallery
BEST IN ILLINOIS: Jackson Junge Gallery
BEST IN INDIANA: Kuaba Gallery
BEST IN KANSAS: 2010 Gallery
BEST IN LOUISIANA: GRYDER
BEST IN MINNESOTA: Kolman & Reeb Gallery
BEST IN MISSOURI: The Museum of Art and Archaeology
BEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: Candita Clayton Gallery
BEST IN NEW JERSEY: Evalyn Dunn Gallery
BEST IN NEW MEXICO: Thornwood Gallery
BEST IN NORTH CAROLINA: Ambleside Gallery
BEST IN PENNSYLVANIA: Morton Contemporary Art Gallery
BEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Mary Martin Galleries Of Fine Art
BEST IN UTAH: Modern West
BEST IN VERMONT: The Current
BEST IN WASHINGTON: ArtX Contemporary
American Art Awards https://www.americanartawards.com/ annually awards 20 museums and/or galleries, who agree to score art and award nearly 300+ deserving contemporary artists from 60+ countries: painters, photographers, sculptors and digital artists.
