Heartland Artist Exhibition Registration

Accepted artwork must closely represent the quality of the digital images in order to be included in the exhibition. All work must be matted, framed and wired for hanging; clip frames will not be accepted. Maximum size of the outside frame measurement is 40 horizontal by 40 vertical inches. The Tim Murphy Art Gallery is located inside the Merriam Community Center, please use discretion regarding subject matter (no nudes).

• Art work must be received NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2026.
• Work must be picked up between Sunday, MARCH 29 and  Sunday, APRIL 5, 2026.
• Artists are responsible for shipping and insurance cost to and from the venue.
• Provide prepared return mailing label and specific prepaid form to return art work (use forms provided by UPS and Fed Ex).
• Packages must be marked “FRAGILE” & PLEASE KEEP UPRIGHT-DO NOT LAY FLAT.”
• Keep a copy of your return label with the tracking number; we cannot be responsible for tracking the return shipment. Do not forget to include prepaid return labels.
• Art must be shipped prepaid and delivered to:

                                                            Merriam Community Center

                                                            ATTN: Tim Murphy Art Gallery

                                                           6040 Slater St.

                                                           Merriam, KS 66202

• Do not use the following: Styrofoam peanuts, second-hand filler (newspaper, magazine pages, plastic bags, etc.) non-archival quality tissue paper for wrapping art work.

Liability

The City of Merriam will not be responsible for loss or damage to artwork which is in transit or exhibited during the Heartland Artist Exhibit. Artwork that is touched up prior to shipping must be completely dry prior to shipping. The artist agrees to authorize the City of Merriam, at its discretion, to utilize photographs of exhibited work for publicity purposes, not for reproduction.

Winners will be provided a W-9 that needs to be completed in order to receive cash award.

The decision of the juror on all entries is final. Exhibition selections will be made from digital images that must arrive with the entry form and fee at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery on or before January 7, 2026. Notice of acceptance will be made no later than January 17, 2026 via the website, along with an acceptance letter. Only juror selected works will be exhibited.  Final judging will be on site. If for some unforeseen reason the juror must withdraw before judging is completed, the Tim Murphy Art Gallery reserves the right to select another juror of similar rank to complete the juror’s responsibilities. Artists will be duly notified in this event.

The 2026 Heartland Juror - Richard Sneary

A resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Richard Sneary started painting as a watercolorist, primarily en plein air in 2011, after 40 years as an Architect, architectural illustrator, and educator. He is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, American Impressionists Society, Missouri and Kansas Watercolor Society, and the Outdoor Painters Society, and President Emeritus of The American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI), Faculty at the University of Kansas Department of Architecture 1977-1985, Faculty Artist at the 11th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo 2024 & The 5th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo 2016, and Faculty Artist at Streamline’s 3rd Annual Watercolor Live 2023. He has been the Featured Artist in Plein Air Magazine, “Playing Within the Lines”, February/March 2022; Special Feature in Plein Air Magazine, “Deep In The Heart Of West Texas”, June/July 2020; Featured Artist in Plein Air Magazine, Aug/Sept 2014; Best Overall Watercolor for the Apr/May Plein Air Salon Competition. Streamline Publishing Paint Tube video, Watercolor Mastery Light & Shadow, 2024. 

Recent awards include Grand Prize at Lighthouse Plein Air 2022 and Artists Choice in 2024; 2nd Place at Paint Annapolis 2022 & Estes Valley Plein Air 2022 & 2023; Best Body Of Work at en Plein Air Texas 2021, Best Of Show at Stems Plein Air 2020 & 2011; 2nd Place Artists Choice at Telluride 2018. Richard is represented by Art Gallery Prudencia, San Antonio, TX, Studio B, Easton, MD, and McBride Galley, Annapolis, MD. 

View Richard Sneary's Artwork