Artist: Hassan Al-farhan, 2024 FINE ART REALISM
About
At Sparmax, we believe airbrushing is more than a technique. It is the art of creation. For decades, we have partnered with leading brands, artists, and innovators to deliver precision, performance, and inspiration to creators worldwide.
Since 2016, the Sparmax International Airbrush Competition has celebrated excellence in realism, fantasy, automotive, and hobby art. Now, we are taking it to the next level. In 2026, Iwata-Medea will join us as a co-host, bringing this global event to a broader stage. Selected artworks will be presented at the IWATA Annual Art Exhibition & Open House, honoring the creativity and passion of airbrush artists everywhere.
Over the years, we have received thousands of submissions from more than forty countries, each telling a story of imagination and mastery. This year, we invite you to take part and show the world what you can create.
CATEGORIES
Previous outstanding works across 4 categories
FINE ART (REALISM)
Capturing intricate details, bringing scenes to life with unparalleled precision
FINE ART (FANTASY)
Crafting dreams into vivid spectacles on canvas
AUTOMOTIVE
Racing into creativity with custom automotive artworks
HOBBY/ MODEL
Crafting miniature marvels with impeccable attention
JUNIOR
Sparkling with innovation, showcasing budding talent
A category dedicated to all the young artists out there!
Applicants must be under age 17 for this category.*
One winner will be selected.
*Participants must be born on or after 2/28/2009
The IWATA Gallery
One of the World’s Largest Collections of Airbrushed Art — Portland Open-House Exhibition
A rare, curated showcase of original airbrushed artwork—much of it never before accessible to the public. In January 2025, Iwata-Medea acquired the Ultimate Air Affair gallery, a remarkable collection formerly curated by ASET USA, LLC in West Valley City, Utah. With the addition of 360 unique pieces, Iwata-Medea now holds what is believed to be one of the most extensive and significant collections of original airbrush-painted art and objects in the world.
To celebrate this milestone, Iwata-Medea will open its doors to the public for the second time during The IWATA Gallery Open House. As part of the event, selected works from the Iwata × Sparmax 2026 International Airbrush Competition will also be showcased.
May 2026 — Date TBD
Iwata-Medea Headquarters
2730 NW 31st Ave., Portland, OR 97210
Admission is free. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to experience highlights from this expansive collection. The open house will coincide with the nearby NW Marine Art Works Open Studios Weekend, offering art lovers a vibrant, art-filled journey just blocks away at 2516 NW 29th Ave.
This exhibition not only celebrates the airbrush as a creative medium, but also honors the artists, collectors, and visionaries who have shaped the legacy of airbrushed art. Iwata-Medea extends its sincere gratitude to Bill Williams and Sherri Candland for their stewardship of the collection, and to Josh Baker, Kari Esper, Charlie Hutton and family, Armando Serrano, Satoru Iwata, Kenichi Osawa, Gary Glass, and many others who contributed to this historic transition.
1st
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Cash $700*
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Iwata Voucher $100**
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Sparmax Voucher $100
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Media interview & Magazine subscription ***
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Competition Booklet
2nd
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Cash $150*
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Iwata Voucher $50
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Sparmax Voucher $50
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Competition Booklet
3rd
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Iwata Voucher $100
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Sparmax Voucher $100
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Competition Booklet
Junior
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Iwata Voucher $100
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Sparmax Voucher $100
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Competition Booklet
*Currency in USD
** Prize vouchers are subject to regional availability. Participants are responsible for any taxes, fees, or limitations related to redemption.
*** 1-Year Archive Subscription to AIRBRUSH STEP BY STEP Magazine (value: €52.90)
How to Join
Entry window: Now until Feb. 28th, 2026
1. The Contest is open to artists worldwide over the age of 18 for submissions to "automotive art, hobby/ model, fine art (fantasy), and fine art (realism)" categories, and between ages 13-17 for submissions to "junior" category at the time of submission.
2. Each Entrant may submit up to ONE artwork per category, maximum 5 photos per artwork, different angles acceptable. Submissions with more than ONE entry per category will not be considered.
3. Submitted artworks must be original creations by the Entrant and should not have previously received any awards or prizes. The use of airbrushing tools should constitute at least 70% of the artwork’s overall execution. The artworks must not have been licensed, published for commercial purposes, or created using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
4.Submissions must be in JPEG/PNG/PDF format, 300 dpi minimum. Please DO NOT include your name on the file name. List down “artwork title & category”, for example, “Dragon_Fine Art (Fantasy)”.
5.Previous Sparmax International Airbrush Competition submissions are not accepted.
6.The judge’s decision is final and the winner will be notified via email.
7.By entering the Contest, each Entrant grants the Organizers a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, publish, distribute, and display their submitted Artwork(s), in whole or in part, in any media now known or later developed by the Organizers.
8.Please fully read and agree to the Terms and Conditions on the submission form prior to entering your submission.
9.If you encounter any problems, please contact contest@sparmaxair.com
Meet The Judges
Sparmax Team
Sparmax sales and marketing team will cast one vote.