Plein Air Painting Competition and Exhibition Gallery Coming to Midtown
03/31/2026
Tracing the origins of the “plein air” (French for “outdoor”) art movement, you’ll encounter familiar names of Impressionist legends - Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh - who wanted to get out of their studios and paint scenes of the land and nature. But bringing their work outside was hard to do until the invention of the metal paint tube in 1841, which allowed for storing oil paint and kept it from drying out. Plein air painting grew into a movement in Europe.
The movement experienced big growth in the U.S. in the 1970s. And the Atlanta version has grown into one of the biggest events celebrating plein air painting. Now in its 12th year, the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational is primed to bring yet another excellent outdoor painting experience to Atlanta from April 18-26. And you’re invited.
The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational began in the leafy Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta – the last residential design by famed landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. A string of parks, now referred to as the Olmsted Linear Park, was included in that design and was the focal point of the first few years of the event.
We recently spoke with Phil Cuthbertson, executive director of Olmsted Arts, Inc. and one of the organizers, to learn more about the 2026 event, which will be based out of Atlantic Station. Keep reading.
The Signature Plein Air Event in the U.S.
There are hundreds of plein air events across the country each year. Most are in small towns and are set up as one-day or weekend events. In most cases, artists apply and pay a fee to participate. And in some cases, applications are juried.
But the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational is unique for three reasons:
First, a dedicated committee of collectors and aficionados researches artists year-round.
They review portfolios, look for participation in other major shows or exhibitions, and note awards or recognitions. Then the committee develops a list of invitees. There is no application. All artists participating in the Olmsted Plein Air are selected. More than 30 top-tier painters from across the US will be here to compete. Think of the Olmsted as the Master's golf tournament of plein air painters.
Second, the Olmsted Plein Air is a nine-day event.
This provides artists with an opportunity to capture multiple scenes locally. It also provides Atlantans with multiple opportunities to meet, mingle, and get to know some of the top outdoor painters in the nation.
This year, the event will have an Exhibition Gallery at Atlantic Station, free and open to the public, where visitors can view 300+ original works of art by some of the country's top outdoor painters. Each day, the gallery grows with new works completed here in Atlanta. The works are available for purchase to support living artists.
And on Sunday, April 26, artists will gather in Winn Park (in the Ansley Park neighborhood just blocks from Colony Square) for the annual PaintQuick, a timed painting competition. Artists of all ages and skill levels are invited to join the Olmsted Plein Air Invited Artists in a beautiful blending of art and nature.
Third, the Olmsted is one of the only plein air shows in a major urban area.
Art lovers will see vivid florals, pastoral scenes, and mountain vistas. But there will also be an urban touch to the paintings on exhibition, with many capturing local scenes from around Atlanta. Think Krog Street Tunnel, the Fox Theatre, Ponce City Market, or a Peachtree Street sidewalk.
Mark Your Calendars
Visitors and attendees can take advantage of several talks/demonstrations, gallery tours, and multiple opportunities to interact with the artists. Get details on the lineup of events and dates at www.olmstedpleinair.com. Evening events provide unique opportunities to meet and mingle. Evening events are ticketed and include hors d'oeuvres, beverages, music, and more.
The 12th Annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational: April 18-26
Visit the exhibition gallery and show headquarters in Atlantic Station:
1380 Atlantic Drive
Suite 14125
Atlanta, GA 30363
View the schedule of events: www.olmstedpleinair.com
The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational is one of two first-class shows produced by the nonprofit Olmsted Arts, Inc. The second show, Georgia Color Plein Air, features Georgia-based artists and is held in Savannah in October. Learn more: https://www.olmstedartsinc.org/