Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Autumn Afternoon, the Wissahickon, 1864, oil on canvas, 30¼ x 45¼” (76 x 114 cm). Public domain.
Art groups and societies are one of the most rewarding communities to be a part of. They foster camaraderie and connection within the art world, offer artists opportunities to grow in their careers and encourage continued appreciation of the arts across the globe. Many of these prestigious groups have been around for well over a century, like the historic Salmagundi Club, which began as a fine arts center in the Greenwich Village of Manhattan in 1871. In its over 150-year history, the club has welcomed such esteemed members as Thomas Moran, N.C. Wyeth, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Emile Albert Gruppé, Norman Rockwell, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Ernest Martin Hennings and many more. Through joining and getting involved with art societies, modern-day artists are creating a beautiful, shared history with some of the historic greats in the realm of fine art.
Emile Albert Gruppé (1896-1978), Masted Granite Schooner, ca. 1920s, oil on canvas. Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA. Public domain.
Artist Kyle Ma paints a live portrait at the Portrait Society’s 25th annual Art of the Portrait Conference in Washington, D.C
Groups and societies celebrating our collective love of art and creativity exist all across the world and even online—a truly international endeavor.
In the following pages, we are highlighting several of the most prominent art societies out there today, some focusing on medium and others focusing on style and subject matter. We hope you enjoy exploring this guide as you ponder the next steps in your art journey in 2025.
The 17th Annual IGOR Exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The 14th Annual IGOR Exhibition at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia.
International Guild of Realism
Scottsdale, AZ, info@realismguild.com, realismguild.com
The International Guild of Realism was founded by a group of renowned realist artists in 2005. IGOR now represents the work of over 500 juried members from more than 35 countries and prides itself in selecting today’s finest realist artists through a jury committee. Along with holding annual gallery exhibitions at some of the best galleries in the United States, IGOR organizes museum tours throughout the country to showcase members’ work. IGOR’s primary mission is to advance realism in fine art through museum exhibitions, art gallery shows, online exhibitions, workshops and educational programs.
IGOR is thrilled to announce the 19th Annual IGOR Exhibition taking place at Sugarman-Peterson Gallery in historic Santa Fe, New Mexico, from June 6 to 30. Opening night reception will be held on Friday, June 6, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Steven Parrish, Shadows, oil, 20 x 16" (50 x 40 cm)
Clement Kwan, Pow Wow Celebration Dancing, oil, 16 x 20" (40 x 50 cm)
Oil Painters of America
(815) 356-5987, mail@oilpaintersofamerica.com, oilpaintersofamerica.com
The Oil Painters of America is steadfast in its commitment to preserving and promoting excellence in representational art. Its primary objective is to advance the cause of traditional, representational fine art by emphasizing the enduring value of fine drawing, color, composition and the appreciation of light. Through its national and regional exhibitions, educational initiatives, scholarship programs and promotional endeavors, OPA has significantly impacted the art community, establishing itself as a leader and a driving force in the contemporary artistic Renaissance. OPA welcomes art students and artists who paint in oil in a traditional, representational style to apply for membership.
Tom Lockhart, Sundown on the Wintry Back, oil, 8 x 10" (20 x 25 cm)
Ni Zhu, They Say He’s Homeless No. 2, oil, 30 x 30" (76 x 76 cm)
National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society
contact@noaps.org, membership@noaps.org, noaps.org
The National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society, founded in 1990, is an international society dedicated to excellence in oil and acrylic painting by providing an environment that inspires artists, evolves talent, creates a venue in which to display artistic talent and nurtures achievement and success while having fun. NOAPS members benefit from five exhibitions per year, scholarship opportunities, mentorship, publicity and more. Visit noaps.org to learn more.
Portrait Society faculty artists Susan Lyon and Jeff Hein.
Portrait Society of America
1109 S. Magnolia Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301, (877) 772-4321, info@portraitsociety.org, portraitsociety.org
The Portrait Society of America is a self-funded artist organization formed in 1998 with an international membership of almost 4,000 aspiring and established artists, art students and supporters among the general public. Central to its mission is facilitating the sharing of the methods and traditions of fine art portraiture and figurative works. Members enjoy a variety of benefits including exceptional educational content through a subscription to International Artist magazine, a full-color Portrait Society quarterly journal, artists’ conferences, webinars on a variety of topics, social media platforms with current news and blog articles on a variety of subjects. An always anticipated event, the Portrait Society’s next Art of the Portrait conference will take place in Washington, D.C. from May 8 to 11, celebrating its 27th anniversary.
David A. Leffel, Portrait of Eddie Hamilton, oil on canvas, 22 x 20" (55 x 50 cm)
The interior of the parlor at the Salmagundi Club, New York.
Salmagundi Club
47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, (212) 255-7740, info@salmagundi.org, salmagundi.org
The Salmagundi Club is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization created in 1871 by artists and patrons to support and encourage one another in the advancement of art. Current members and recent past members include some of the most recognized names within representational art: Max Ginsburg, Richard Schmid, Charles W. Mundy, Daniel E. Greene, Kathy Anderson, Sherrie McGraw, David A. Leffel, Jacob Collins and many more. With an eye toward the future, the club encourages young artists interested in representational art to apply for its junior memberships and scholarships.
Housed in a historic brownstone mansion in Greenwich Village, New York City, the club hosts hundreds of yearly art exhibitions, painting demonstrations, lectures, concerts, group meetings, classes, workshops and art auctions. The club’s permanent art collection, built by generous member donations and its purchase prize awards, is made up of more than 1,500 works of art. Exhibitions of the permanent collection and current living artists are free to the general public year round.
AIS 2023 Best of Show in the 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, by Brian Astle.
AIS 2023 Best of Show 7th Annual Small Works Showcase, by Erin Spencer.
American Impressionist Society
Liz Ahrens, Executive Director (231) 881-7685 • aisdirector1@gmail.com www.americanimpressionistsociety.org
American Impressionist Society is a national arts organization serving more than 2,300 artist members across the United States. AIS was founded in 1998 to promote the appreciation of American impressionism. Membership is open to U.S. citizens and legal residents and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Accepted mediums include oil, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, casein, egg tempera, gouache and oil sticks. Annually, AIS offers four juried exhibitions (two in galleries and two online), prizes and awards of over $125,000 in cash and merchandise, panel discussions, painting demonstrations, workshops, critiques, studio tours, professional development, on location painting competitions and discounts on art materials.
Artist Roberto Gammone with collectors at the 16th International ARC Salon Exhibition at Sotheby’s New York in July 2023.
A view of the crowd at the 16th International ARC Salon Exhibition.
Art Renewal Center
100 Markley Street, Port Reading, NJ 07064, feedback@artrenewal.org (732) 636-2060 ext. 619, www.artrenewal.org
The Art Renewal Center, known worldwide for its International ARC Salon Competition, has pulled together an energetic, optimistic and brilliantly talented base of ARC Affiliated Artists. As true masters in the visual arts, they are teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists, scholars and teachers to protect, preserve and perpetuate traditional techniques and training in the 21st century. ARC Affiliated Artists have their own gallery page on the ARC website, the ability to add their workshops, exhibitions and events to the ARC events calendar and can request blog/social media/newsletter announcements to highlight their accomplishments and to direct traffic to their events. In addition, all courses taught by artists with a title of ARC Associate Living Master or ARC Living Master are automatically ARC Approved®, and if teaching regularly, artists with these titles qualify for a listing as teaching master classes on the ARC atelier page and map. To learn more, use this QR code.
Garin Baker, Atelier, Painted From Life, oil on linen mounted to wood board, 30 x 40" (76 x 101 cm). Courtesy AAPL.
American Artists Professional League
admin@aaplinc.org, aaplinc.org
Established in 1928, the AAPL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of realism in American fine art. The AAPL is a curated group of over 600 artists across the country working in various media. Member benefits include a full roster of online and in-person shows, three in-person gallery shows in 2025 including the historic Grand National Exhibition, the Critique Program where Signature members give personalized feedback to artist members and much more.
Colored Pencil Society of America
cpsa.org/about/cpsa-governing-board, cpsa.org
A nonprofit founded in 1990, CPSA serves and supports artists who work in the exciting and vibrant fine art medium of colored pencil. Members receive a twice-yearly magazine, member directory and a lightfastness guide for thousands of colored pencils. The society holds two juried exhibitions yearly, and members have the opportunity to earn CPSA signature status and recognition as the best of the best in colored pencil. Regional chapters offer workshops, inspiration and camaraderie, and their annual convention and international exhibition (held this year in Bethesda, Maryland) is not to be missed.