Easton, MD – Plein Air Easton (PAE) is thrilled to announce the juror selection for the 21st PAE festival and outdoor art competition, July 11-20, 2025. This year’s juror is Mary Morton, Curator and Head of French Paintings at the National Gallery of Art since 2010. With a distinguished career that includes roles as associate curator of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, she brings a wealth of expertise to her current position. Morton's impressive portfolio includes organizing high-profile exhibitions such as "Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment" and "True to Nature: Open-Air Painting in Europe, 1780–1870." Her contributions to the art world are further exemplified by her leadership in acquiring significant works by artists like Gustave Caillebotte and Anne Vallayer-Coster. We deeply appreciate the wealth of knowledge Morton brings to the jurying process. Her discerning eye and dedication to the arts promises to elevate this year’s competition to new heights.

The judge for this year’s competition is Peter Trippi, an art historian, editor, curator, and lecturer based in New York City, is the editor-in-chief of Fine Art Connoisseur, a magazine for collectors of representational art. Additionally, he is the president of Projects in 19th Century Art, a firm specializing in research, writing, and curating. Peter recently served as president of the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, which supports and promotes the American Institute for Conservation, the country’s top society of conservation and preservation professionals. He has directed the Dahesh Museum of Art (New York City), led development teams at the Brooklyn Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art, and created international exhibitions and publications on 19th-century painters like J.W. Waterhouse and Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Peter has judged numerous art competitions, including the Art Renewal Center Salon, the International Guild of Realism, Plein Air Easton, and the Portrait Society of America. Mr. Trippi will evaluate the entire collection of submitted competition artwork and will issue awards at the Collectors Preview Party on July 18 then explain his selections in the ever-popular Judge’s Talk on July 20. Trippi has been a part of the Plein Air story serving as juror and judge in years prior and has been a valued friend of the festival. In 2024, he was asked to select the competition artists and Nancy Tankersley was the judge for that year’s competition.

Applications for the 21st annual Plein Air Easton competition and festival will be accepted beginning December 1, 2024. Applicants can apply directly through OnlineJuriedShows.com until January 17, 2025. The artists announcement will be made online through PleinAirEaston.com on February 7, 2025.

The Judging and Jurying Process

The judging process for Plein Air Easton is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and the highest standards of artistic evaluation. Here’s an overview of how the process works:

• Submission Review: Artists from across the nation submit their work for consideration online beginning December 1, 20204. Submissions are due no later than January 17, 2025.
• Initial Selection: From the pool of submissions, the juror will select 53 artists to participate in the on-site competition in Easton, where they will paint in person over the course of the event. The artist announcement will be made on February 7, 2025.
• Competition Artists’ Requirement: During the week of July 10-17, 2025, artists have a specified time frame to complete two plein air paintings and one 6x8 painting to be turned in by July 17, 2025 for judging and awards.  (Competing artists have the opportunity to participate in several events during the festival that result in additional opportunities to win prizes and exhibit and sell artwork all week long, July 13-20.)
• Final Judging: Once the competition paintings are turned in, Peter Trippi will conduct a thorough evaluation of each piece, considering factors such as composition, execution, creativity, and adherence to plein air principles.
• Awards Announcement: Prizes for the competition artists' exhibit will be awarded during the Collector’s Preview Party where the entire collection of competition artworks will be unveiled and are available for purchase July 18, 2025 and throughout the weekend through July 20, 2025

Event Highlights

Date: July 11-20, 2025
Location: Easton, MD
Juror: Mary Morton, Judge: Peter Trippi

Join us in celebrating the 21st Annual Plein Air Easton, a showcase where artistic brilliance and community spirit collide. For more information about the event and to view the full schedule, visit PleinAirEaston.com