Nature's Patterns

Step into the rhythms, repetitions, and hidden designs of the natural world in Nature’s Patterns, NOMA Gallery’s May international art competition.

From the spirals of seashells and the branching of trees to the symmetry of wings, waves, roots, petals, feathers, rock formations, shifting clouds, and the movement of water, nature is filled with patterns that are both visually stunning and deeply meaningful. This competition invites artists to explore the countless ways nature organizes itself — through order, chaos, growth, texture, repetition, and transformation.

Artists might interpret this theme through landscapes, florals, animals, ecosystems, natural textures, microscopic forms, celestial rhythms, or symbolic connections between humanity and the living world. Whether your work is realistic, abstract, or imaginative, we want to see how you respond to the beauty, structure, and mystery woven throughout nature.

New Award Sponsor Announcement
NOMA Gallery is honored to welcome Holbein Artist Materials as an award sponsor for our Nature’s Patterns International Art Competition.

For this competition, one artist will receive the Holbein Artist Materials Award, which includes one Holbein watercolor set, with Strathmore watercolor paper added by NOMA Gallery.

We’re proud to offer this special prize in celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep love of the artistic process.

We’ve leveled up how we award artists.

NOMA returns 70% of all entry fees collected as a cash Prize Pool.

The more entries the show receives, the larger the Prize Pool becomes.

🏆 Best of Show — 60% of Prize Pool (juried)
🗳️ People’s Choice — 20% of Prize Pool (public voting)
🏅 Finalists (2) — 10% of Prize Pool each (juried)

✨ Winners + finalists also receive official NOMA badges + certificates.

• 20 entries → $200 total → $140 Prize Pool
   
• 40 entries → $400 total → $280 Prize Pool
   
• 75 entries → $750 total → $525 Prize Pool
  Prize Pool always equals 70% of entry fees collected. Totals may vary with Early Bird entries.