Click Here to View the 2023 Exhibition

The Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition, now in its fifty-third year, is dedicated to the educational and artistic advancement of our talented young people in the state of Ohio. The exhibition is open to all of Ohio's 1,112 high schools, both public and private, chartered by the State of Ohio Department of Education. Our purpose is to provide all budding young artists of the state with opportunities to advance their talent, whether that be through scholarships or simply experiencing the process of entering their work in a competition. The exhibition is a valuable incentive for our young people; it encourages an appreciation for the arts throughout Ohio and reflects the fine quality of art instruction and talent which exist in our state.

The process of selecting artworks for the State Exhibition begins on a regional level. The state is divided into 15 regional locations, with high school students in each region invited to enter work in that regional judging. Each region has a designated Regional Director, who is responsible for choosing the jurors for their region and for arranging specifics of the event. In 2022, both the regional and state jurying occurred online. The jurors for the state level of competition are chosen from all over the country and are generally professional artists themselves, college level instructors, or both.

In 2022, from the 8,069 regional entries, 1300 were selected to enter the state judging. State jurors then selected 348 pieces for the exhibition with 25 of the 342 chosen to receive the Governor's Award of Excellence.

The exhibition opens at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, across from the State Capitol, in April and closes near the end of May. An awards ceremony is also typically held at the Riffe Capitol Theatre in the students' honor.