Inspired by Edo: National Student Art Competition 2024

What is Edo?

Edo was a period of Japanese history (1603~1868) when artists innovated techniques to bring all of nature to striking life.

Because artists saw themselves as belonging to nature, not above it, they opened their eyes and their hearts to all living creatures, depicting birds and fish, even trees and clouds as enchantingly alive.

Discover Edo art and submit student art to Inspired by Edo 2024.

Dragons and Clouds, Tawaraya Sotatsu

Watch the Videos!

Introduction to Edo Era Art: Art and Artists (2:03)

Introduction to Edo Era Art: Historical Background (2:14)

Carp, Shibata Zeshin

Edo Art Lessons and Resources

Investigating Japan’s Edo Avant Garde is the K-12 curriculum hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art that explores the art of Japan’s Edo era (1603~1868).

The image-driven lesson plans and resources reveal how Edo artists experimented with asymmetry, abstraction, stylization, and empty space to depict nature.

The curriculum showcases stunning, world-class art to inspire students of all ages.

All the lessons and resources are free!

Call for Student Art

All students grades 1 ~ 12 who create art inspired by a lesson in the Edo curriculum are invited to submit their best work online.

Students can create the art in class, as a club activity, with their friends, or on their own.

To Enter:

Students need a Gmail address, either their own, a teacher’s, or a guardian’s.
Fill out this Google Form with your full name and grade and upload a high-quality photo of the art (no larger than 10MB) and write 2~3 sentences about how a lesson inspired your art.

Submissions are now closed.
See you next year!

See the 50 Finalists

Eagle, Kishi Ganku

Puppies, Maruyama Okyo

How the Competition Works

Only art inspired by a lesson in the Edo curriculum will be considered. No school affiliation is required.
All art must be original, not a copy, created on 11"×14" paper, by grades 1~12 students in the U.S.
Any drawing or painting tools are acceptable.
No art made using AI tools is allowed.
Art will be judged for Creativity, Thoughtfulness and Effort.
Two judges will select 50 Finalists.
The finalists’ art will be framed and exhibited in Los Angeles in Summer 2024.
All framed art will be mailed back to finalists with a prize.
By filling out the form and uploading your art you will be agreeing to the submission terms.

Help Us Spread the Word

We’re launching Inspired by Edo in 2024 and plan to make it an annual competition. But we need your help!

Here’s what you can do:
Spread the news about the Inspired by Edo competition. It doesn’t matter what you teach or what you study, art is always cool.

For your School or Club:

Download and print Flyer Download and print Stickers

Art teachers: See you at the NAEA National Convention
(Booth 603) in Minneapolis!

Lions at the Stone Bridge of Mount Tiantai, Soga Shöhaku

Inspired by Edo is supported by the U.S. Japan Foundation.

Inspired by Edo National Student Art Competition 2024