The lineup · 12 easels
Who painted.
All easels · alphabetical
Rounds drawn closer to show
Your night at Art Battle
The evening, at a glance
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7:00PMDoors
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8:00PMPaint starts
The battle
Format
Auction terms
Know before you go
Open Materials Rules Read the full document ›
Art Battle Rules
Art Battle Open Materials Rules
- Artists have 20 minutes to create their competition artwork (30 minutes in some championship rounds)
- Artists must use the blank canvas provided at the competition as the surface for their artwork
- The artwork must be placed on the easel as provided at the conclusion of the round
- Artists are encouraged to bring their own mediums and tools. A limited set of acrylic paint is provided by local Art Battle producers. Artists are encouraged (but not required) to bring outside medium — Allowed mediums include: acrylic paint, ink, oil paint, charcoal, pen, pencil, watercolor, and more. Water based aerosol, airbrush, oils with solvent are permitted only at some venues, but restricted at others - audience safety and comfort is the main consideration in materials being allowed or not
- The use of reference images are permitted, but not required. Any reference images must be printed or prepared on paper
- Pre-made images (collage), including stencils, are not permitted. Creation of stencils 'at the easel' and during competition time is permitted
- The local/global audience votes for the best artwork in each round, and the winner(s) advance to further rounds/events
Regular Season Event Timing Read the full document ›
Regular Season Event Format
Round Structure
- All rounds: 20 minutes per round
- Number of artists: Typically 12 artists
- Format: 2 preliminary rounds of 6 artists each, followed by a final of 4 artists
- Advancement: Top 2 from each preliminary round advance to the final
- Canvas size: 16" × 24" (standard)
Schedule
Artists should arrive 30 minutes before the event start time for setup and briefing.
Watch the night back
Art Battle Chicago.
If a paragraph won't sell it, two minutes of the room will.
Watch the artists paint and the audience choose their favorites.
Coming up in Chicago
Next on the calendar.
Bring an Art Battle to your event.
Hire champions from the AB roster to paint live at your gala, conference, launch, or wedding. We bring the easels, the artists, and the 20-minute clock — your room walks away with a custom canvas and a story.
200+ events · Adobe · BMO · TED · MoMA · 14 countries
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Launch Art Battle in your city.
Art Battle has visited 70 cities across 14 countries — and we're opening more every season. If your city is missing from the map, we'll help you find a venue, an artist pool, and a first audience. Most producers run their first show within ten weeks.
9 new cities launched in 2025 · Wilmington · Auckland · Tallinn · Cape Town · 5 more
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Activity
What happened.
August 2026
August 30, 20261 city championship on the wall — every one of them won by an inch. Thanks to every room that voted.
12confirmed
12Artists
July 2026
July 31, 2026From the floor at SPIN Chicago. Painted to Chicago — full bracket on the event page.
From the floor at SPIN Chicago. Painted to Chicago — full bracket on the event page.
From the floor at SPIN Chicago. Painted to Chicago — full bracket on the event page.
From the floor at SPIN Chicago. Painted to Chicago — full bracket on the event page.
From the floor at SPIN Chicago. Painted to Chicago — full bracket on the event page.