18th Annual Imprint Competition & Exhibition
2026 Imprint Competition
Imprint, our annual high school student printmaking exhibition, has been a cornerstone program for the Wharton Esherick Museum for nearly two decades. A century ago, Wharton Esherick found his true calling through printmaking; Imprint encourages young people to explore this art form and make artistic statements through it for generations to come. We currently invite art classes from the Chester, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh, and Philadelphia Counties to enter each year. Public, private, charter, and home schools may enter. Our aim for this program is to inspire new generations of young artists through Esherick’s prints and legacy.
2026 THEME: Groundbreaking
Imprint is back at the Wharton Esherick Museum for our 18th year. We are thrilled to continue our annual high school printmaking competition and exhibition during a landmark year—100 years ago, Wharton Esherick began construction on a studio that is now the museum we know and love today.
This exhibition reflects everything we celebrate—art as a bridge between generations, techniques rooted in history, and fresh voices shaping the future. The works submitted by talented high school printmakers are powerful reminders that this tradition is very much alive and growing. 2026 will be a milestone year not only for the Wharton Esherick Museum, but for the country as a whole as we celebrate our 250th anniversary. While we look back to celebrate traditions of making, creativity, and community, we invite students to look forward and explore the theme Groundbreaking. Wharton himself set the standard, breaking ground on bold ideas and new creative directions. Whether reflecting on personal milestones, social movements, or creative breakthroughs, we encourage young artists to interpret Groundbreaking in ways that speak to their own experience and vision. We hope this theme sparks curiosity, conversation, and powerful printmaking.
The Studio itself represents the groundbreaking spirit and style of Wharton Esherick, who broke the boundaries between fine art and functional design. (Ex. the Double Sided Music Stand). He dove into the world of society and politics with his illustrations for Walt Whitman’s Song of the Broad-Axe (a celebration of American labor and democracy).
Wharton Esherick quite literally broke new ground when he began construction on his Studio and the other buildings across our campus—structures that reflect his unique vision and untrained but fearless approach to design. With no formal architectural training, he brought his sculptural ideas into the world of architecture, challenging conventions and reshaping the spaces we live and work in. His work reminds us that innovation often begins outside the lines—by questioning limits and daring to create something new. How will you and your students break new ground this year?
The Competition
The jury will select pieces for an online exhibition at the Wharton Esherick Museum, opening on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
We are pleased to invite our entire community (no, you don’t have to be a teacher, student, or administrator!) to a virtual opening reception on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Keep an eye on our Events page for more details!
Eligibility
The competition is open to high schools in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh, and Philadelphia Counties. Public, private, charter, and home schools may enter. All submissions must be printed or include printed components. They may be woodblock, linoleum, soft or E-Z cut, but don’t have to be! We are eager to see you get creative with your printmaking!
Deadline to apply
Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Selection
The works will be judged by a jury composed of museum staff and professional artists and/or art teachers.
We are honored to share that our guest juror for Imprint 2026 is Em Dombrovskaya, the Suzanne Andrée Curatorial Fellow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The jury will select First, Second, and Third Place winners, who will receive a cash prize as will their art departments. A Viewer’s Choice Award will be voted on through our Facebook page. While there is no cash prize for Viewer’s Choice, the print may already be one chosen by the judges or be voted into the show through the public’s participation.
Criteria for selection are creativity and craftsmanship. Prints this year should interpret the theme ‘Groundbreaking.’
Finalists’ teachers will be notified via email by April 10, 2026 of the jury’s decisions.
A virtual opening reception will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00 pm.
Prizes
There are four awards given to selected students. They are: First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Viewer’s Choice. An Honorable Mention may also be awarded at the jury’s discretion. First, Second and Third Place come with monetary prizes of $200, $150, and $100 which are given to the student as well as the art department of their respective school. First-place winners will also receive a free field trip to the Wharton Esherick Museum for a class of up to 16 people. For larger groups, we are proud to offer a free virtual program.
Looking to bring printmaking into your classroom?
Check out our Making an Imprint Unit Plan for high school students.
Take your students through the full five-lesson unit, covering history, criticism, and practice, or simply pick and choose those activities that best suit your needs!
We also created a companion plan, Fellow Citizen: Digital Citizenship and the Printmaker, to help guide students through the ins and outs of copyright law, ethics, and fair use in the digital landscape.
Entry Guidelines
All submissions must be printed or include printed components. They may be woodblock, linoleum, soft or E-Z cut, but don’t have to be! We are eager to see you get creative with your printmaking! Don’t forget to tell us what you made under “Medium and Materials” on the entry form. If you use additional materials or specific types of paper for your print, please note that as well.
- All submissions must interpret the central theme, Groundbreaking.
- Only one print may be submitted per student. Each school may submit no more than fifteen entries.
- Photographs should be JPEG or TIFF files, at 300 dpi. Only the work should be visible in each photo.
- Title each image file in the following format: StudentLastNameFirstInitial_ArtworkTitle_School (for example: SmithJ_Butterflies_GreatValleyHS.jpg)
- Artwork should have a title – be creative!
- Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.
- All entries should be submitted online, using this entry form. Please be advised that submission of this form constitutes permission given to th
- Wharton Esherick Museum to exhibit work online and use it in publicity material for the Imprint Competition/Exhibition.
Have questions or need more information? Please email [email protected] or give us a call at 610-644-5822.
Imprint Frequently Asked Questions
The theme for Imprint 2026 is Groundbreaking. What does that mean?
The Studio itself represents the groundbreaking spirit and style of Wharton Esherick, who broke the boundaries between fine art and functional design. (Ex. the Double Sided Music Stand). He dove into the world of society and politics with his illustrations for Walt Whitman’s Song of the Broad-Axe (a celebration of American labor and democracy).
Wharton Esherick quite literally broke new ground when he began construction on his Studio and the other buildings across our campus—structures that reflect his unique vision and untrained but fearless approach to design. With no formal architectural training, he brought his sculptural ideas into the world of architecture, challenging conventions and reshaping the spaces we live and work in. His work reminds us that innovation often begins outside the lines—by questioning limits and daring to create something new. How will you and your students break new ground this year?
How many entries can I submit?
Teachers may only submit one entry for each student. Schools may submit up to fifteen total entries. Entries must be submitted using the Jotform Entry Form.
Can I edit my entries after submission?
Yes! Follow the “Edit Submission” link on the top left or bottom center of your confirmation email!
How should work be photographed and submitted?
Photographs should be JPEG or TIFF files, at 300 dpi. Only the work should be visible in the photo. See the Imprint 2025 Exhibition & Competition page for an example of our virtual exhibit. Use this entry form to submit entries.
How can I incorporate this into my curriculum? What other resources for this might be available?
Participation in Imprint alone is compatible with PA Education Standards 9.1.12.A, E, H and J. Lesson plans that incorporate Esherick’s work into various curricula, including printmaking, are available on our website here.
We will also be offering a slate of printmaking-related programs throughout April 2026 to celebrate Imprint. We’ll be sure to share details in the coming months.
Who is eligible to enter?
All high school art students (whether public, private, charter, or home school) from Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties are welcome to participate. Please note that submissions must be made by teachers.
When is the deadline for entry?
Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
When will the show open? Will there be an opening reception?
The show is a virtual exhibition hosted on our website and will open on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Finalists’ teachers will be notified by April 10, 2026 , via email. We will be celebrating our young artists with a virtual opening reception on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
What prizes are available?
Cash prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning high school students and their respective school art departments. First place is $200, second place is $150, and third place is $100. First-place winners will also receive a free field trip to the Wharton Esherick Museum for a class of up to 16 people. For larger groups, we are proud to offer a free virtual program. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or to schedule your visit.