World’s Best Male-Figure Artists: SCHMITT, CHRISTIAN, LENART, FURMINGER, RODRIGUEZ, LEIMKUELLER, ROBLES, VANCE & CECHOVA / 2025 WORLD ART AWARDS
Artists from 58 countries competed in the 2025 WORLD ART AWARDS where 20 of the most revered galleries in the world 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 revealed in this column one category at a time, and also an upcoming movie.
The WINNERS in CATEGORY 10. EROTIC — MALE represent GERMANY, FRANCE, POLAND, UK, SPAIN, AUSTRIA, PHILIPPINES, USA & DENMARK.
BIO of 1st Place winner Silvia Schmitt:
Silvia Schmitt, also known as Topenga, is a contemporary artist from Friedberg, Germany, specialising in highly detailed, photorealistic portraits. Drawn to figurative art since childhood, she has been dedicated to capturing the human form with intense precision since 2014 — often working long hours to refine her technique. Inspired by people with striking charisma, Silvia focuses on faces that tell stories, particularly those from the world of film and television. Her goal is to reveal the soul and beauty of each subject. Her commitment has earned her multiple honours, including the American Art Award. https://www.topenga-art.com
WINNER WEBSITES AND CONTACTS:
CATEGORY 10. EROTIC — MALE
1st Place SILVIA SCHMITT GERMANY https://www.topenga-art.com “Lapis” 29.7x42cm Colour pencil and brush pen on drawing board.
2nd Place — Tie RAPHAEL CHRISTIAN FRANCE www.raphaelchristian.com “My Presence” 72x90cm Watercolor on paper, mounted on canvas.
2nd Place — Tie MATEUSZ LENART POLAND www.instagram.com/mateuszlenart/ “Giant Problem” 36x50cm Ink on paper.
3rd Place — Tie CHRISTOPHER FURMINGER UK https://www.facebook.com/CLFurminger/ “Morning Routine” 16x12" Acrylic on canvas.
3rd Place — Tie JUAN MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPAIN https://www.instagram.com/jmy.maleinart?igsh=MXdoZG9oN3oyeHl1aA== “Simon” 42x30cm Graphite on paper.
4th Place — Tie JUAN MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ SPAIN https://www.instagram.com/jmy.maleinart?igsh=MXdoZG9oN3oyeHl1aA== “The Light” 42x30cm Color pencil on paper.
4th Place — Tie TATIANA LEIMKUELLER AUSTRIA https://mysculptureanddrawings.tilda.ws/portfolio “David In Modern Life” Various sizes Digital painting.
5th Place — Tie FERNANDO ROBLES PHILIPPINES 2donrobles@gmail.com “Manny” 70x90cm Oil on canvas.
5th Place — Tie DAVID VANCE USA http://www.davidvanceprints.com “Blond In Low Rise Briefs” Manipulated photo.
6th Place — Tie DAVID VANCE USA http://www.davidvanceprints.com “Angel In The Forest” Manipulated photo.
6th Place — Tie KATERINA A. CECHOVA DENMARK www.katerinacechova.com “In Front Of Rubicon Midlife Crisis” 100x100cm Oil on canvas.
Art collectors can see hundreds of winning images and contact info to all 50 CATEGORIES of winning artworks:
In 2025, WORLD ART AWARDS had submissions from these 58 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe.
The World Art Awards 20 Best Galleries & Museums for 2025 who were asked to score art: (in alphabetical order by country):
20 BEST INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES
Best in Cyprus: Lumière Contemporary Art Gallery
Best in Denmark: Galleri Christoffer Egelund
Best in Hong Kong: Pekin Fine Arts
Best in Iceland: Phenomenon Art Studios & Gallery
Best in Indonesia: Baik Art
Best in Malaysia: The Gallery des Artistes / Gallery@Tropicana
Best in Morocco: Comptoir des Mines Galerie
Best in Myanmar: New Treasure Art Gallery
Best in The Netherlands: The Arden Art Gallery
Best in Nigeria: The Thought Pyramid Art Centre
Best in The Philippines: Gravity Art Space
Best in Slovenia: Visconti Fine Art
Best in Sweden: Wetterling Gallery
Best in Taiwan: 1839 Contemporary Gallery
Best in Ukraine: Art Ukraine Gallery
Best in USA: California: CODA
Best in USA: New Mexico + Texas: Thornwood Gallery
Best in USA: Colorado: Mirada Fine Art
Best in USA: Florida: MAC Art Galleries
Best in Zambia: Zeela Art Gallery & Homestay
