November 18 through December 5, 2025 Awards Reception: Friday, November 21, 5:00-7:30pm in the Skylight Gallery.
For more information: https://aaplinc.org/97-gne
The American Artists Professional League, Inc.
Our Purpose.
To advance the cause of ne arts in America through the promotion of high standards of beauty, integrity and craftsmanship in painting, sculpture and the graphic arts.
November 18 through December 6, 2025
Table of Contents
The History of AAPL
The Salmagundi Club and the American Artists Professional League
The AAPL Founders
A Letter from AAPL President Aki Kano
AAPL Board of Directors
Welcome to the Grand Nationals from GNE C0-Director Deborah Gersony
The Jurors
Many Thanks and the 2025 Scholarship Recipients: Celeste Maslovsky and Victoria Sepulveda Accepted
Skylight Gallery, Salmagundi Club of NY, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC
The Semi-Finalists
The Online Show Winners
The AAPL Winner from the Almenara Art Prize: Scott Garder
The Winner of the Almenara Collection from the Grand National Exhibition: Robin Williamson
The GNE Sponsors Acknowledgements In Memoriam
AAPL Membership Levels
AAPL Signature Members
Our Advertising Sponsors
The History of AAPL
In January 1928, F. Ballard Williams, Assistant Treasurer of the National Academy of Design in New York, called a meeting with distinguished members of the Salmagundi Club to discuss the need for a national organization to support the increasing interest in traditional Realism in American art. They agreed this organization should be designed to encourage and protect artists’ interests, promote high standards of beauty, integrity and craftsmanship, and emphasize the importance of educational support for young artists. The American Artists Professional League (AAPL) was born.
Almost immediately The AAPL became a proactive, unied voice supporting American artists. By using its international stature, the organization was able to inuence a rider to a Congressional bill that stipulated all ofcial portraits paid for by taxpayers’ dollars were to be painted by American artists. This law remains in effect to this day. Another milestone for the organization was the improvement of the chemical and physical purity of artists’ pigments. By securing a grant from the Carnegie Corporation, a program of color pigment research was established by The AAPL. By 1932, The AAPL was considered the country’s leading authority on artists’ pigments culminating in the establishment of the US Bureau of Standards’ original set of standards for artists’ colors. These standards were updated in 1962.
In its 97th year, The AAPL currently stages two in-person juried shows: The Grand National Exhibition at the iconic Salmagundi Club in New York City, and Timeless, at the notable Lyme Art Association, in Lyme, CT. The Grand National Exhibition attracts hundreds of applicants from all fty states and abroad. The work is reviewed by a selection committee of artists in all media. Our award judges are chosen from art institutions within the New York Metro area. All accepted artists are given an opportunity to have their work represented in our annual full color show catalog and over $18,000 in prize money is awarded at our reception. The AAPL also sponsors two online shows: The Spring Members Online Show, providing our members a great opportunity to get feedback from fellow artust members and showcase their work to the public, and Emergence, for young artists and Associate Artist Members.
Our Members specialize in the wide spectrum of contemporary and traditional Realist art. The AAPL represents artists residing and working across the United States and territories. We foster creativity, value skill, and encourage excellence.
The Salmagundi Club and the American Artists Professional League
The Salmagundi Club and the American Artists Professional League share a rich history intertwined with the development of American ne art. The Salmagundi Club, established in 1871, was a pioneer in New York City's artistic community, offering a platform for artists to work, exhibit, and socialize. It became the rst professional artist-run organization to hold an exhibition devoted exclusively to drawings and etchings, earning a national reputation. The club's library, founded in 1895, is renowned for its extensive collection of American art materials and books on costume, serving as a valuable resource for its members.
The American Artists Professional League (AAPL) was founded in 1928 by a group of painters, illustrators, and sculptors to promote traditional Realism in American ne art. The AAPL's headquarters are at the Salmagundi Art Club in New York, where it has hosted an annual Grand National Exhibition to support the growing interest in art across the United States. The league's members included notable artists such as Andrew Wyeth, Henriette Wyeth, and Theodore H. Pond.
Both organizations have played signicant roles in the promotion and preservation of American Realism, with The AAPL continuing to maintain its base in New York City and the Salmagundi Club maintaining its historical signicance as a cultural institution.
The AAPL founded American Art Week in 1930, which was subsequently observed each year during the rst week of November. Eleanor Roosevelt opened American Art Week in 1940, and President Dwight Eisenhower congratulated The AAPL via telegram in 1959. In 1953, American Art Week was renamed the Grand National Exhibition, to distinguish it from the government program of the same name. The national program was discontinued in the early 1970s due to rising costs and diminishing funds. The AAPL Grand National Exhibitions were originally for members only, held at the National Academy, the Salmagundi Club, and other locations such as the exhibition gallery of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, and the National Museum of Natural History in 1963. In the mid-1980s, the Grand National Exhibition returned to the Salmagundi Club, where it has been held since and entry into the exhibition is now open to both members and non-members.
The Grand National Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club is a prestigious event that showcases some of the most talented artists in the country. It is open to the public for three weeks, providing ample opportunity for visitors to appreciate the artwork and learn about the artists' inspirations and creative processes.
The AAPL Founders
We gratefully acknowledge the founders listed below:
(Benjamin) Franklin DeHaven
Albert Turner Reid
Alfred George Pelikan
Charles Dana Gibson
Chauncey F. Ryder
Edward Field Sanford
Frank Cookman Wright
Frederick Ballard Williams
George A. Little
George Gardner Symons
George Pearse Ennis
Gordon Grant
Guy Carleton Wiggins
H. Hobart Nichols
Harold Van Buren Magonigle
John Scott Williams
J. H. Freedlander
John Vassos
John Ward Dunsmore
Ralph M. Pearson
Walter Beck
Wheeler Williams
Wilford S. Conrow
William Sherman Potts
AAPL’s First President: Frederick Ballard Williams (1871-1956)
AAPL Founder: Edgar Alwin Payne (1883-1947)
Mesa, Arizona, oil on canvas by Edgar Alwin Payne.
Edgar Alwin Payne in his studio.
Mount Manseld, Vermont in Autumn, oil on canvas, by F. Ballard Williams.
F. Ballard Williams in his studio.
From AAPL President Aki Kano
I am truly delighted to present the American Artists Professional League’s 97th Grand National Exhibition at the beautiful and historic Salmagundi Club in New York.
Congratulations to all of the incredible artists in our 2025 exhibition! We received a record number of submissions this year, and being accepted into such a highly competitive show is an extraordinary achievement. It has been deeply rewarding to help organize this GNE and to continue AAPL’s proud 97-year tradition. This year, we are excited to highlight several initiatives that benet our members:
GNE Seminalist Online Showcase – Introduced in 2024, this initiative allows more artists to be represented in our agship show, including those who prefer not to ship their work. We are proud to continue this tradition and will once again be awarding three Merit Certicates to Showcase participants.
Partnership with the Almenara Collection – Our ongoing collaboration with Almenara continues to ourish. Almenara has generously donated a $500 award and extended an invitation for the winning artist to exhibit in their 2026 in-person show in Spain. The winner of this year’s Almenara Collection Award in our show is Robin Williamson for her painting “Beyond the Frame”. AAPL has donated $500 to an award winner in Almenara’s exhibition, and the winner of the AAPL Award in the Almenara Art Prize Exhibition is Scott Garder for his drawing “Anna Nina”. We are thrilled to have Scott’s drawing on display at this year’s GNE. I was honored to serve again as a juror for the Almenara Art Prize and to attend the awards gala in Córdoba this past November.
AAPL’s Inaugural In-Person Member Exhibition – This past fall, we hosted Timeless at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, CT (Sept. 19–Nov. 6, 2025), awarding over $6,000 in prizes.
2025 AAPL Scholarship Recipients – Victoria Sepulveda, a student at the Grand Central Atelier, received a $5,000 award through the Art Renewal Center (ARC). Celeste Maslovsky, studying at the Art Students League of New York, was also awarded $5,000 from the League. Each year, AAPL proudly presents two scholarships to support promising students dedicated to creating art in the realist tradition.
Expanded Marketing and Media Presence – Our exhibition is featured in leading publications including American Art Collector, International Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur, and SouthWest Art. Notably, American Art Collector’s November issue includes a dedicated section on the 97th GNE with a multi-page editorial feature, and SouthWest Art is also showcasing the accepted artists.
The Critique Program – We launched this special member perk this past spring, offering our members a unique chance to receive individualized feedback from an artist of their choice. Several acclaimed AAPL members have generously given their time and expertise to provide personalized feedback to their fellow members. Over 20 AAPL members have received critiques so far! Learn more about this at: https://aaplinc.org/critique-program
GNE Awards Reception Piano Performance – We are thrilled to feature the remarkable young pianist Brielle Logel, age 13, who has performed multiple times at Lincoln Center through the Golden Key Music Festival. Outside of music, Brielle enjoys acting and spending time with family and friends.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the AAPL Board, especially GNE Exhibition Co-Chair Deborah Gersony, for their tireless work in making this exhibition possible. I am also deeply thankful for the ongoing support of our members, sponsors, patrons, and benefactors. I hope you enjoy exploring this year’s exhibition. Please don’t hesitate to share your feedback on the 97th GNE — I would love to hear from you at: President@aaplinc.org
Warm regards,
Aki Kano
President, American Artists Professional League & Grand National Exhibition Co-Director
AAPL Board of Directors
Presidents Emeriti Sheldon Marks, Peter Rossi, Larry Mallory, and Kinrad Hansalik
Aki Kano – AAPL President & Grand National exhibition Co-director
Aki Kano is a representational watercolor portrait artist who earned her B.F.A. from the University of Michigan and a Fashion Design degree from FIT in New York City. After a 15-year career in fashion and handbag design, she discovered her passion for watercolor in 2014. Her award-winning work has since been exhibited internationally and featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, International Artist Magazine, and American Art Collector. She was recently shortlisted for the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize in the UK.
Heather J. Jones – AAPL vice-president
Heather J. Jones is a Connecticut-based photorealist painter known for vibrant gouache and watercolor works celebrating vintage vehicles. Largely self-taught, she studied at Parsons, SVA, and Heatherley’s. Her award-winning work has been featured in juried exhibitions and publications like Fine Art Connoisseur. Heather serves as Vice President on the boards of the American Artists Professional League and Carriage Barn Arts Center. She recently completed a major commission for permanent exhibit at Grace Farms, a prestigious cultural and humanitarian foundation.
Lorenzo Cardim – Treasurer
Lorenzo Cardim is a Brazilian-American gurative sculptor and textile artist. His fabrication work has been acquired by the Smithsonian and exhibited at the National Building Museum and other national institutions. His artworks have been shown at the Textile Museum, the Newseum, the Corcoran Gallery, and MOCA Arlington, as well as internationally, and are held in public and private collections worldwide. He serves as Associate Dean at The Catholic University of America’s School of Architecture. Lorenzo earned his MFA from the California College of the Arts and his BFA from the Corcoran College of Art.
Karen Israel – Recording Secretary
Karen Israel’s award-winning pastel paintings have earned her Signature Membership with the American Artists Professional League, Master Circle status with the International Association of Pastel Artists and Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. She’s a member of the Salmagundi Club and an elected member of the Lyme Art Association. Karen teaches workshops and demos across the U.S. and frequently serves as a juror for national art competitions.
AAPL Board of Directors
The AAPL Board of Directors consists of eleven dedicated volunteer Members from varied artistic backgrounds. The AAPL is in its 97th year of recognizing, encouraging and supporting traditional and contemporary American Realist art and artists.
Deborah Gersony – Membership
&
grand national Exhibition co-Director
Deborah Gersony is a professional artist and former physician devoted to plein air oil painting, capturing the outdoors directly from life. She also creates larger studio works featuring landscapes, seascapes, and animal studies. A resident artist at the historic Salmagundi Club and an active member of several art organizations, Deborah seeks to convey the eeting interplay of light, color, and atmosphere that makes each moment unique.
ERIC CHAUVIN - DEMO COORDINATOR
Since 1992, Eric Chauvin has worked as a digital matte painter in lm and television. In 2015, he returned to acrylic painting with a series focused on 6th-century Constantinople. His work has been exhibited at the 16th International ARC Salon at Sotheby’s New York and the AAPL’s 96th Grand National Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club. Eric holds a BFA (1987) and MA (1991) from California State University, Fullerton.
Jess Bell – Fundraising Director
Jess Bell, a self-taught oil painter and lifelong Monmouth County resident, draws deep inspiration from the ocean and coastal scenes. A former teacher with a Master's in Special Education, she became a full-time artist in 2019. Her award-winning work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including features in American Art Collector and was a 2025 top nalist of PleinAir Magazine’s 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition. Jess serves on the board of theAmerican Artists Professional League and is a Resident Artist at NYC’s Salmagundi Club. She paints daily from her Middletown, NJ studio.
Nancy Stainton – Technology Director
Nancy Stainton has been creating art since age 8, beginning with pencil and charcoal portraits, later exploring Surrealism and Impressionism. She studied Fine Arts at the University of Colorado in the 1970s and works in pastels and oils, focusing on portraits, landscapes, and street scenes. She has studied with some of the more prominent modern painters such as Michael Shane Neal, Albert Handell and many others. A member of the American Artists Professional League, American Women Artists, Degas Pastel Society and the Portrait Society of America, she has won numerous national awards in these groups. She has a keen interest in portraying the beauty and current reality of indigenous people, endangered animals and anywhere she travels.
AAPL Board of Directors
Please consider a contribution to the Scholarship Fund, establishing a Memorial Fund in honor of a loved one, or making a testamentary bequest to The American Artists Fund. All donations are tax deductible.
Eva Volf – Social Media director
Eva Volf is a Cleveland-based oil painter known for her serene, atmospheric seascapes. An Elected Artist of the American Artists Professional League, her award-winning work has appeared in national exhibitions and featured in American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air, Vogue, and on TV. Eva’s paintings are held in private, corporate, and public collections worldwide, including the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Spectrum. She is also a member of the Oil Painters of America.
bill jobson - marketing director
William Jobson, a New York City-raised artist, earned a degree in Advertising Design from FIT and worked as an art director in publishing and advertising. He continued developing his skills in drawing and painting, exhibiting at the Salmagundi Club starting in 2019, becoming a member in 2022, and later serving as President. His leadership led to the largest schedule of exhibitions in years. Bill is also a member of the Edward Hopper House Art Center. He and his wife Nora live in Englewood Cliffs, NJ with their dog Luke.
NANCY ALLEN - GRAPEVINE, CATALOG & GRAPHICS DIRECTOR
Nancy Allen is a retired graphic designer and artist based in rural Eastern Oregon, specializing in equine portraiture and colored pencil as a ne art medium. She continues to take on select design projects and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Nancy is an Elected Artist Member of the American Artists Professional League, International Guild of Realism, Society of Animal Artists, American Academy of Equine Art, and Women Artists of the West, and is a former Signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America
Alex Tibar – Administrative Manager
Alex was a sales professional for almost 20 years. She left the corporate world when her twins were born. Since then she served on the board for Mothers of Multiples Society and Montessori Education Foundation. She has volunteered at her children's school regularly over the years. She has enjoyed working for the AAPL since 2020.
November 18 through December 6, 2025
Skylight Gallery, Salmagundi Club of NY, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC
Welcome to the 97th Grand National Exhibition
A Message from Grand National Exhibition Co-Director Deborah
Gersony
As the American Artists Professional League (AAPL) nears its centennial, we proudly celebrate 97 years of championing the nest traditions of Realist art. This year's Grand National Exhibition showcases exceptional works across both traditional and contemporary media. Whether you join us in the gallery or online, we hope you nd inspiration and delight in these works, just as we have in bringing this exhibition to life.
AAPL is a nonprot organization sustained by the commitment of our Board, volunteers, and members. From Associates to Signature Artists, our members bring diverse training and perspectives to the world of Realism. Some favor academic traditions, others a more impressionistic style, while still others align with distinct schools such as Hudson River, Boston School, Tonalism, Photorealism, or Hyperrealism. What unites them all is a devotion to capturing the magic of the world in a truthful and inspiring way. It is our privilege to showcase some of the nest examples of that vision here.
We extend our gratitude to the ofcers and staff of the Salmagundi Club of New York City for their hospitality and partnership. Our shared history is integral to the identity of the AAPL, and the Grand National Exhibition remains the highlight of our year.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, welcome to the 97th Grand National Exhibition. We invite you to enjoy this celebration of artistic excellence.
Deborah Gersony
Grand National Exhibition Co-Director
November 18 through December 6, 2025
Jury of Selection
AAPL Board of Directors
Guest Jurors of Selection:
Kara Ross, Joel Edwards and Don Taylor
Kara Ross
ARC C0-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Kara Lysandra Ross is the Co-Chair and Chief Operating Ofcer for the world renowned Art Renewal Center (ARC). She holds a BA in Art History from Drew University. As an art educator she has been a contributing writer for Collections Magazine, and Fine Art Connoisseur, and has been published frequently in other magazines and newspapers. She was the co-editor of the William Bouguereau Catalogue Raisonné and author of chapter 28 in the published second edition. In her role at the ARC she spearheaded the introduction of the live exhibition associated to the ARC Salon Competition which has traveled to prestigious venues such as Sotheby’s NY, Sotheby’s LA, The European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) and the Salmagundi Club, serving as chief organizer and curator. She is an ARC Salon Juror, and has served as juror in other competitions for organizations such as the 2nd Velázquez Painting & Sculpture competition, China, the South African Portrait Society, International Guild of Realism, IX Arts, and the Ani Academy. She is also an expert on 19th century Academic French and English painting, co-authoring William Bouguereau: The Essential Works and is currently researching and writing the catalogue raisonné on Edmund Blair Leighton, for which she is accepted as the world authority, authenticating works by this artist for Sotheby's, Christie's, and Bonham's among others.
Skylight Gallery, Salmagundi Club of NY, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC
Joel Edwards
AAPL Signature Member
Joel Edwards is a Texas artist who has become best known for his quiet, contemplative landscapes and architectural pieces in pencil, watercolor, and oils. In the tradition of artists such as George Inness, he believes there is more to creation than the mere physical aspects of a subject. The intent of Joel’s artistic creations is to deliver a message of spiritual truth to the viewer. Precise drawing as well as the emotional qualities of color are used to add a sense of tranquility and awe to what might be dismissed as mundane reality.
Recently, Joel was selected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as one of 31 Texas artists to participate in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Texas State Park system. In addition to landscapes, Joel has also completed numerous portrait commissions. Some notable works include Christian music great Kurt Kaiser, as seen on his latest album cover, Legacy, and Joel’s portrait of Dr. Gordon Teal, which hangs in the Teal Residential College at Baylor University. His paintings hang in many private collections around the country, and his creative work has been used for book and magazine covers as well as granite memorials across the United States. He is a member of the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society and the American Artists Professional League and has participated in many national shows and won numerous awards. His skill is mostly self-taught, and he is continues to study his craft in his hometown of Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife and children.
Guest Juror of Selection
Don Taylor
AAPL Signature Member
Don is a Signature member of 17 watercolor societies, including TWSA, WW, WFWS, FWS, SW, HVAA, and more. He is also an elected member of Allied Artists of America. Don was the president of Southern Watercolor Society for 5 years and has been on the SW board since 2006. He has taught workshops across the southern US, including Louisiana Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, Miami Watercolor Society as well as numerous art guilds. He is a native of St. Augustine, FL, a former Marine Corps ofcer and veteran of Vietnam, and a retired veterinarian having practiced in Panama City, FL for 45 years.
In the mid 70’s, Don began taking watercolor workshops while still practicing veterinary medicine. In 2006, Don began to practice part-time and began a second career painting and teaching watercolors. He has taught classes in his studio since that time. His work has been included in many watercolor publications, and in 2024, he published his book “Plein Air Journaling in Watercolor and Pen and Ink”.
Don retired completely from veterinary practice in October 2018 after Hurricane Michael ravaged the Panama City area. He has lived in Panama City since 1972 with Louisa, his wife of 62 years.
Juror of Awards
Frederick Brosen
Watercolor Artist & Instructor
Frederick Brosen's watercolors have been featured in more than thirty solo museum and gallery exhibitions across the United States. In 2024, the Museum of the City of New York presented The Four Seasons of Central Park: The Watercolors of Frederick Brosen, a series of four large-scale paintings of Central Park. Earlier this year, Hirschl & Adler Modern mounted a solo exhibition of his recent works—his seventh with the gallery since 2006.
Brosen has also exhibited at the William-Scott Gallery, the South Street Seaport Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Frye Museum in Seattle. His work was featured in American Dreamland: Coney Island, a traveling exhibition that concluded at the Brooklyn Museum in 2016.
In 2006, Vendome Press published Still New York, a monograph on Brosen's New York City watercolors, with an introduction by Ric Burns. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The City College of New York, his alma mater, in 2012. Among his many honors are two Pollock-Krasner Grants.
Brosen's work is included in the permanent collections of more than twenty museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New-York Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Frye Museum. He has been represented by Hirschl & Adler Modern since 2005 and more recently by Forum Gallery.
He holds a BFA (Magna cum Laude, 1976) from The City College of New York and an MFA (1979) from Pratt Institute. Over the past 35 years, he has taught at the National Academy of Design, Pratt Institute, Lehman College, and, most recently, at the Art Students
League of New York, where he continues to lead workshops throughout the year. He also conducts annual travel workshops in Europe and offers private lessons both in person and via Zoom. Mr. Brosen was named an ARC Associate Living Master in 2024 and is a Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society. Contact: rickbrosen@gmail.com Website: www.frederickbroaen.com Instagram: @ Frederick_Brosen
Many Thanks
Brielle Logel
GNE Reception Piano Soloist
Brielle Logel is 13 years old and has been playing piano since the age of four. She has performed at Lincoln Center multiple times after being selected through the Golden Key Music Festival. Outside of music, Brielle enjoys acting in school plays and spending time with her friends and family. AAPL appreciates her lovely musical contribution to the Grand National Exhibition Reception.
2025 Scholarship Recipients and Artist Statements
This year's AAPL Scholarships will go to Celeste Maslovsky and Victoria Sepulveda.
Celeste's “Personal and Artistic Statement”
“I am a representational painter of the human form, focused primarily on the face. I nd myself thinking of my portraits as I go to sleep and they are often my rst consideration in the morning. I enjoy painting people who have a solid sense of self. The challenge of capturing their strength of spirit is fascinating to me. The variety of people who I see this quality in is what most inspires me to paint.
Through the instruction I have already received through ASL, my ability to see and paint has grown in many ways. Each critique I have received from a League instructor has helped me to develop my eye. I have been thrilled every single time I enter the building on 57th Street for Robin Smith's class. My hours painting from a model with her skilled instruction have been invaluable. In future class work, I hope to improve my anatomical knowledge, play with the complexity of color and continue pushing my condence as a painter. So far I have only been a part-time student, always wishing for more time. I look forward to the extra time, instruction and learning I would no doubt enjoy as a full time student.”
2025 Scholarship Recipients and Artist Statements
Victoria’s “Personal and Artistic Statement”
"As an artist, I am driven by a sense of awe at the beauty of this world we live in. It is this feeling that has drawn me to the works of the old masters, to try to uncover not only their techniques but also their long-forgotten way of viewing the world, of participating in something greater than themselves. Through the challenges of the human experience, art has always been my anchor. This is why I feel compelled to pursue a career in the arts: so that I may share a sense of relationship to the sublime with those around me.
Creating realist art is a slow, meditative practice, something I believe is more important than ever in a world where everything is quick and convenient. To me, it is an act of gentle rebellion to prioritize slowness and intentionality over instant gratication. By choosing craftsmanship, presence, and discipline, I feel I am investing in the kind of future I want to live in.
I am deeply honored to receive the AAPL scholarship: this support is allowing me to devote myself completely to my artistic education in the next year. I am incredibly grateful for the kinship and mentorship I have received at the Grand Central Atelier, and to my family and friends for supporting and cheering me on.
My dream is ultimately to travel the world and engage in a lifelong study of craft, inspiring large narrative works expanding upon careful studies made from life. In doing so, I hope to contribute to the long lineage and living tradition of Realist art, as well as the world at large."
Kathleen S. Giles Life is Having a Spark of Hope Watercolor
21.5 x 29.5
$3,900
20 x 24
$2,900
Danielle D Oil1
6 x 12
$2,100
Christopher Hanson
Marie Gray Curaidh Oil
Larry G Hemmerich
Valley of the Gods Sunrise
Pastel
20 x 34
$3,225
Jenna Hestekin Who's the Boss
Scratchboard
8 x 10
$800
Pastel
15 x 30
$2,500
Pastel
20 x 16
$1,600
Karen Israel Uptown Girls
Katherine Irish Virga and Solstice
Heather J. Jones Triumph Watercolor 13 x 13
JuliAnne Jonker
Layne Irie Oil
36 x 24
$10,000
Jodie Kain A Moment of Reection
Pastel
28.5 x 18.5
$12,000
Aki Kano
Portrait of Ryan
Watercolor
24 x 36
$4,500
Oleksandra Korolenko
The Blossom Guardian
Acrylic 24 x 16 NFS
Chris Krupinski
Lemons with a Bowl of Blueberries
Watercolor
30 x 22
$5,000
Sophia Lacroix
Jocelyn Oil
30 x 24
$3,200
Online Show
Shuk Susan Lee
Whisper of Heaven
Pastel
18 x 15
NFS
Wanning Liao
The ower that can never be destroyed in the crevice of war Oil
23.62 x 23.62
$10,000
Britt LoSacco Back to the Sky Oil
24 x 36
$7,000
Madeira Through Lifting Fog Oil
18 x 24
$3,366
Mann Cautious Descent Oil
14 x 18
$5,200 Online Show
Karla
Gayle
Glenn E. Marlowe
Adam & Eve
Sculpture
36 x 120 x 48
$200,000
Celeste Maslovsky
Kirra
Oil on panel
14.5" x 11.5"
Price: $750
2025 AAPL Scholarship Recipient
Georgene E. McGonagle
High Hopes II
Sculpture
34 x 17 x 17
$5,600 Online Show
Brian McClear Hoon Oil
60 x 40
$6,500
Graphite 24 x 18
NFS
The
Daniel Watercolor 18 x 14
NFS
William McKeown
Jason
Kumiko S. McKee
He She Me
Lynne B. Mehlman
Mandarin Mood Oil
20 x 16
$4,000
Angela Mia Where Butteries Lead
21 x 28.5 x 14
$17,000S
Sculpture
John Moftt All Is Vanity Oil
40.25 x 30
$20,500 Online Show
Nicole Moné The Unveiling (Portrait of Matthew and Frankie) Oil
20 x 16 NFS
Victor Mordasov Unexpected Letter Oil
12 x 8
$3,500
Jessica Nelson Portrait of Home Oil
18 x 14
$3,500
William Paquet Until Death Sculpture 24 x 9 x 7
$13,500
Marcia Palmer The Recipe Oil
9.5 x 19 $1,950
28 x 42 NFS
Lana Privitera
Me time in good company
Watercolor
29 x 21
$4,000
Norberto Perez Dulces y Chocolates
F. Pross
Sweet Oranges
Acrylic 7 x 9
NFS
Galal Ramadan Dreamer's Realm!
20 x 30
$4,800S
Colored Pencil
Cher Pruys
Rand The Great Pumpkin Oil
20 x 13
$3,900
Lynn Reilly “Waiting”
20 x 20
$3,500
Connie
Pastel
Jennifer
L.L. Richwood
Stay Another Day Oil
18 x 24 NFS
Harvey Rogosin
Washington Mews Pastel
12 x 9 NFS
Max Savaiko Rivalry Series Dodgers vs Yankees Oil
16 x 24
$4,200
Thomas Wells Schaller Afternoon in Rome
Watercolor
28 x 20
NFS
Steve Scheuring
Serial Revisited Oil
36 x 36
$32,000
Linda J. Schroeter Peonies; Peace, Love, Harmony Oil
20 x 24
$4,500
8 x 9 x 15
$4,000
Victoria Sepulveda Venus of the North Graphite, charcoal and white chalk on paper.
20" x 25"
Price: $1500
2025 AAPL Scholarship Recipient
Liv Sciford Donovan Sculpture
Lyasya Sinkovski
Almost Dutch Oil
19 x 13
$4,500
15 x 9.5 x 9.5
$3,450
Kim Shaklee In the Shallows Sculpture
Nancy O. Stainton
Ojibwe Girl
Pastel
16 x 20
$2,000
Acrylic 24 x 18
$29,000
Robert Steiner
Vernal Mist
Bonnie Steinsnyder
Orchids Waiting for Spring
Watercolor 15 x 22
$2,750
Chantal Sulkow In The Green Room Oil 14 x 11
$6,500
19 x 13 NFS
The Orphan Oil
16 x 12
$12,000
Rebecca Tait
Fang Sullivan
Beautiful Blue
Pastel
Don Taylor Cathedral Nuevo II
Watercolor
30 x 22
$1,500 Online Show
Anna Toberman I Have Lived in Worse Times Than These Charcoal
20 x 15.5
$1,450
Patricia C. Tribastone
Blue Vase and Roses
Oil
20 x 16
$2,200
Kathleen Ullman
Tatianna
Pastel
25 x 16
NFS
Eva Volf Echoes of Golden Light Oil
8 x 10
$550
James Vose Pandora's Box (Temptation and Warning) Oil
18 x 18 NFS
A Rightful Place in the Sun
Acrylic 20 x 16
$6,800
$4,500
Leon White
Patience Pays Off
Sculpture 18 x 14
Doug Webb
Theckla White Williams On a Clear Day Oil
30 x 27
$3,200
Robin Williamson Beyond the Frame Oil
14 x 11
$2,500
Almenara Collection Award
Winnerfrom the Grand National Exhibition
$3,500
Rosanne S Wolfe Tasseled Watercolor 22 x 17
Keith Willis Blue Bahamas Oil 18 x 24 $2,500
Rebekah Wood Grandma's Suitcase Oil 14 x 11
$1,640
Phil C. Yeh
Ruby 3 Pastel 25 x 19
$3,500 Online Show
Desiree Rose Zaslow
Walking the Docks at Dawn Oil
18 x 24
$4,000
Wendi Zlamal
We Could Be Heroes
Mixed Media
24 x 18
NFS
Aulus Sculpture 13 x 11 x 7
$5,135
Joseph Zovickian
The Semi-Finalists
Elliot Appel
West Village Blues
Carol Ashton-Hergenhan Golden Rod with Gall
Jessica Aviles
Hold my Hand
Patt Baldino A Quiet Perch (parakeet)
Jon Bandish Spray
Linda Besse Calm Reection
Henry Bosak Exquisite
Mary Chandler
Bella Luce Primaverile
Timothy Sean Conway Chasing Victory
Norman Darvie Nymph and Putti
James A. DePietro
Animal Crackers (The Hunting Party)
Elizabeth B. Derderian Entrance to Rye Beach
Barbara Dove Study of Brown
Christopher Forrest We’ve Only Just Begun
Lisa Gleim Devotion
Carol Gromer
In The Wings version 2
Katherine Grossfeld Tumbled
John Guiseppi
Forever Cool
Catherine Hafer
Brothers
Seth Harris
Sunrise
Len Jagoda
Tiznow - Two Time Breeder's Cup
Classic Champion
Yifan Jia
The Hobbit
William Karaffa Seeking 969
William Andrew Kennon
White Roses
Kate Lackman Daydream
Shuang Li
Trolley Station, Old Town San Diego
Zhi Li
Antique Blue White Vase, Copper with Fruit
Patsy Lindamood
Great Blue on the Bow
Tammy Liu-Haller
Grace
Henrieta Maneva Palace of Versailles II
Arline Mann
Open
Liz Jorg Masi
Wait for it
Tom Mason
Pollock Orchards
Janis L. Mattson
You Don't Scare Me!
Dan McCrary
The Effects of Time and Gravity on a Plymouth Headliner
Dean L. Mitchell
Mrs. Flowers
Christopher B. Mooney
Mr. Mooney's Bacon Cheeseburger Must Be Ready.
Diane Motroni
Alaskan Seaport
Glenn Murray Nonnie's Buttons
Victoria Peterson
Blue and White Pottery
Scott Royston
Tassles
Michael Scherfen
The Weaver
William Schneider
Eva's Mom
Shauna Shane Fast!
Dan Simoneau Perseverance
Siana Smith Haircut
Robert A. Steedman Welcome Home
Arlene Steinberg Edging Out the Competition
Thomas Torak
Studio Interior with Nocturne
Lori Weisenfeld
The Cabin
Lin M. Yang
Awaiting Blooml
Nancy L. Yang
It Smells Good
Christopher Z. Zhang
Holiday Morning
The Online Show Winners
Dean L. Mitchell
Mrs. Flowers
Watercolor
16.25 x 19.25
NFS
Elizabeth B. Derderian Entrance to Rye Beach
Acrylic 24 x 12
$2,500
Karla Mann
Cautious Descent
Oil
14 x 18
$5,200
The AAPL Award Winner from the Almenara Art Prize Competition
Scott Garder
Scott Garder
Anna Nina
Mixed Media on Hand-Toned Paper
13.5 x 13.5
NFS
Scott Garder (b. 1986) received a B.S. in graphic design and worked as a professional designer for over 10 years before studying at Grand Central Atelier. Draftsmanship and craft are central to his approach to art making, and his work conveys both conceptual truth and the beauty of the visual experience. Scott’s work hangs in collections ranging from North America, South America, Europe & Australia.
The winner of the Almenara Collection award from the Grand National Exhibition
Robin Williamson
As an oil painter, I am deeply drawn to the beauty and complexity of the human form. My work seeks to capture not only the physical presence of the body but also the stories, emotions, and capabilities that are expressed through it. Inspired by the masterful gurative artists of the 19th century, I strive for a highly rened, realistic style that celebrates both the elegance and strength of the human gure.
My subjects often engage with other forms of art, such as music and dance, where the body becomes a vehicle for creative expression. I nd endless inspiration in the grace, discipline, and passion of artists in these elds, and through my paintings, I aim to explore the connections between the physical and the artistic.
In “Beyond the Frame,” I wanted to capture the moment of quiet introspection – the kind that exists between thought and emotion, where the inner world begins to surface. The girl's gentle gaze and softened posture suggest a story unfolding beyond what is seen, inviting the viewer to step past the edges of the canvas into her private reverie.
Robin Williamson Beyond the Frame Oil 14 x 11 $2,500
Sponsors Thank you!
President’s Gold Medal - $5000: donated by The American Artists Fund
Silver Medal Award - $4000: donated by The American Artists Fund
Bronze medal Award - $2000: donated by The American Artists Fund
Frank C. Wright Medal of Honor: donated by The American Artists Fund
Honorary Award for Outstanding Watercolor - $500: donated byJohn R. Grabach Memorial, and Allied Artists of America
Honorary Award for Drawing or Graphic - $500: donated by Audubon Artists Inc., and Catharine Lorillard Wolfe
Honorary Award for Outstanding Oil - $500: donated by Claude Parsons Memorial Fund
Honorary Award for Outstanding Acrylic - $500: donated by Leila Gardin Sawyer Memorial, and The American Artists Fund
Honorary Award for Outstanding Pastel - $500: donated by Flora Giffuni Memorial, Pastel Society of America, and Ridgewood Art Institute
Honorary Award for Outstanding Sculpture - $500: donated by John R. Grabach Memorial, Salmagundi Club and Allied Artists of America
Award for Exceptional Still Life or Floral - $1000: donated by The American Artists Fund Award for Exceptional Scenic - $1000: donated by The American Artists Fund Award for Exceptional Figurative - $1000: donated by The American Artists Fund Award for Excellence in Traditional Representational Sculpture - $200: donated by The Council of American Artist Societies, Inc.
An editorial in the magazine valued at $6,000.
Full-page ad, valued at $2,300.00.
$3000 Alden Bryan Memorial Award managed by The Vermont Community Foundation, for Best Traditional Landscape in Oil.
18 color set of our M. Graham artist paints, valued at $325 to $500.
One magazine ad award.
A quarter-page ad, valued at $2,400.
$500 and an invitation to exhibit in the 2026 in-person Almenara Exhibition in Córdoba, Spain
A Lifetime Membership valued at $1500.
The Collector’s Choice for Over 40Years
Sponsors
$250 Gift Card.
Thank you!
Course Library valued at $456.
$200 digital gift certicate to Ampersand Art Supply.
Viewer’s Choice Award
Various sketch pads and one small brush set valued at $75
5 $100 gift cards valued at $500. .
Three $100 gift certicates for the Online Exhibition.
A FASO one year membership and $250 in BoldBrush ad credits, as a package it is a total value of $562.
$250 E-Voucher.
A watercolor set or gouache set valued at $150.
Oil Color set of 12, one Watercolor set of 12, one four water color granulating sets of 6, as a package it is a total value of $778.
$500 Gift Certicate.
Oil or water color set. WINNER CAN PICK.
Acknowledgements
The American Artists Professional League would like to thank the following Benefactors and Sponsors for their support for the 97th Grand National Exhibition.
Our Benefactors
Chris Forrest
Joseph Warren
Laura Paray
Lilian Forziat
Desiree Zaslow
Reciprocal Donors
Allied Artists of America
Audubon Artists Inc.
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, Inc.
Hudson Valley Art Association (HVAA)
Ridgewood Art Institute
Salmagundi Club
Pastel Society of America
Almenara Collection
Our Sponsors
The Vermont Community Foundation/ Alden Bryan Memorial Award
Turner Colour Works
Ampersand
Sentient Academy
Holbein Artist Materials
Canson
Jack Richeson & Co.
Royal Talens
Fine Art Connoisseur
Princeton Artist Brush Co.
Silver Brush Limited
International Artist
Artwork Archive
Rosemary & Co.
American Art Collector
M. Graham & Co.
Bold Brush
Southwest Art
The 2025 Almenara Art Prize
In Memoriam
Gerald Lazare
Sept. 25, 1927 - March 23, 2021
Gerald began his wonderful career as an artist at the age of 16 when he was hired to do comic strips during the war. He became an illustrator and taught part-time at the Ontario College of Art which enabled him to become a serious painter, then later he taught in Florence. He had many successful shows, received numerous awards and has paintings in many prestigious collections. Both Gerald and his wife Setsuko are Signature Members of AAPL, and as a "power couple" in art published a book of their work together, “East Meets West” in 2007.
Diane Stolz
October 26, 1939 - February 1, 2024
A native New Yorker, Diane Stolz attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1959 and appeared in off Broadway plays. Diane attended the State University of New York and after moving to Kansas City with her husband and children, furthered her education at the University of Missouri in Kansas City where she completed a master’s degree in piano pedagogy. In addition to teaching piano for 40 years, Diane had a successful career in art achieving Signature memberships in the American Artists Professional League, Missouri Watercolor Society, Pastel Degas Society and Missouri Pastel Society.
Ruth Reinginghaus Smith
October 4, 1922 - April 9, 2025
Ruth Reinginghaus Smith was a technical illustrator and educator, having trained at many prestigious institutions, including the National Academy and the Art Students League. Throughout the1960's Ruth studied oil painting with Robert Beverly Hale, Robert Philips, Morton Roberts, Frank Reilly, Robert Maione and Rudy Colao. Ruth's awards for her pastel and oil paintings are too numerous to count. In addition to earning Fellow status at the American Artists Professional League, she was a distinguished member of the Knickerbocker Artists, Hudson Valley Art Association, Oil Pastel Association, Allied Artists of America, National Arts Club, Society of Illustrators, Pastel Society of America (also a board member), Pen and Brush Club, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (board member 1987-1997), served on the board of the Washington Square Outdoor Art Association, and served as President of the Salmagundi Club of New York from 1983-1987, curator 1989-1997, board member from 2003-2004, and Active Navy Art Cooperative and Liaison for the Coast Guard Art Program. Breaking the glass ceiling at the formerly all-male Salmagundi Club, Ruth was among the rst group of women elected to the Club's membership in 1973, and achieved her seat as the Salmagundi's President in 1983.
AAPL Membership Levels
ASSOCIATE
ARTIST MEMBER - annual dues
$60
Supporter of representational and traditional realism. Help to promote, encourage, and advance the cause of ne arts in America. Associate level is for beginning artists, enthusiasts, and emerging artists. Associates Members are entitled to:
Membership in a nationally prestigious art club.
Associate On-line Show, annual Studio Auction.
Complimentary Newsletters, inclusion in the AAPL Grapevine.
Discounted entry fee for the AAPL's annual juried show, Grand National Exhibition. Member-Gallery and Member Map entry.
Limited social media reposts, Annual National meeting.
Associate Artists applications and portfolios will be reviewed by the AAPL. To apply for membership as an Associate Artist Member (AA) please email the membership form along with 3-6 images of your work to admin@aaplinc.org. You will be contacted to arrange for the application fee. Applications are reviewed at the monthly AAPL board meetings. In certain cases, an applicant for Associate Artist may be encouraged to accept an Elected Artist Membership. Associate Artists who are accepted into the Grand National Exhibition or wins an award in a members’ online show will automatically be promoted to Elected Artist Members.
ELECTED ARTIST MEMBER - annual dues
$80
Those who have been approved by the Membership Committee of the National Board of Directors or those that have been accepted into one or more Grand National Exhibitions. Elected level is for emerging artists, semi-professional, and professionals. Benets:
Membership in a nationally prestigious art club.
Exhibit in Spring Members Online Shows, annual Studio Auction, additional online and in-person shows.
Complimentary Newsletters, inclusion in the AAPL Grapevine. Social Media Features and reposts.
Discounted entry fee for the AAPL's annual juried show, Grand National Exhibitio. Member-Gallery and Member Map entry. Annual National meeting.
To apply for membership as an Elected Artist Member (EAM) please email the membership form along with 3-6 images of your work to admin@aaplinc.org. You will be contacted to arrange for the application fee.
FELLOW ARTIST MEMBER - annual dues
$80
Long-time Members who have achieved the level of Fellow will retain their status. Fellow is a Legacy level as of 2021. Benets are the same as Elected Artist Member.
SIGNATURE MEMBER - annual dues
$85
Benets are the same as an Elected Artist Member, with these additions: Permission to append AAPL to the artist's signature on all their works. Listing of honor in the GNE catalog.
Criteria: Acceptance into three Grand National Exhibitions and winner of one GNE Award.
NOTE: The award of Signature Membership requires the unanimous vote of approval by the AAPL Board of Directors.
IF YOU ARE INTERSTED IN BECOMING AN AAPL MEMBER, PLEASE GO TO WWW.AAPLINC.ORG AND CLICK ON THE “MEMBERSHIP” TAB.
Signature Members
Marjori Abramson
Douglas Aja
Lee Alban
Tony Armendariz
Del-Bourree Bach
Jon Bandish
Sue Barrasi
Stacy Barter
Serena Bates
Brenda L Bechtel
Joy Beckner
Holly Bedrosian
Michael Berardesco
Kim Bernadas
Rose Ann Bernatovich
Arlyne Berzak
Penny Billings
Ginger Bowen
Andrea Brogan
Linda Gross Brown
Michael Budden
Jason Chang
Candace Cima
Norman Darvie
Mimi Davis
Kathy Detrano
Jennifer Dettmer
Gary Eckhart
Joel Edwards
Andrew F. Engel
Erin Farnsworth
Kendra Ferreira
Louis Stephen Gadal
Tanja Gant
Alberta Geyer
Lisa Gleim
Barbara Greco
Rob Gregoretti
Joseph Grieco
Carol Gromer
Catherine Hafer
Dora Hagge
Jim Hallenbeck
Linda Hanks
Annette Hanna
Tom Hedderich
Meng Lung Hsieh
Katherine Irish
Karen Israel
James Jackson
Jodie Kain
Aki Kano
Susan Klinger
Marianne Knipe
Sun Min Kwon
Kate Lackman
Shuk Lee
Judith Leeds
J. (Jie) Li
Patsy Lindamood
Tammy Liu-Haller
Esther Lo
Carol Loeb
Joe Males
Larry R. Mallory
Arline Mann
Gwen Marcus
Glenn Marlowe
Anthony Masi
Ann James Massey
Brian McClear
Georgene McGonagle
William McKeown
Lynne Mehlman
Jacqueline Meyerson
Eveline Miller
Victor Mordasov
Kate Palmer
Steven Parton
Ann Pember
Theresa Pergal
Tony Piscitello
Gail Postal
Lana Privitera
Cher Pruys
Connie Reilly
Richard Ressel
Elizabeth Rhoades
Ann Rosow-Lucchesi
Junko Ono Rothwell
John Roush
Scott Royston
Joan Saba
Sharon Savitsky
Michael Scherfen
Linda Sciongay
Kim Shaklee
Marie Sheehy-Walker
Gail Shelton
B. Berne Smith
Kathleen Smits
Dottie Stanley
Robert Steedman
Robert Steiner
Jane Stoddard
Fang Sullivan
Rebecca Tait
Richard Tartaglio
Donald Taylor
Lewis Testa
Deborah Tilby
Gabrielle Tito
Thomas Torak
Elizabeth Torak
Amy Unfried
John Wahlig
Lori Weisenfeld
Deborah Williams
William Yenkevich Sr
Yanqi Zhai
Christopher Zhang
Andrea Placer
Peggy Post
Grand
The 98th Grand National Exhibition will open on November 17th, 2026 at The Salmagundi Club in New York City.
Entries will open on May 29th, 2026.
Deadline for entries will be August 11th, 2026.
Accepted Artists will be notified on August 26th - 27th, 2025.
