An Estimated $70,000+ Will Go Into Art Community at Nation’s Largest Live, Bracket-style Painting Competition
WAUWATOSA, Wisc. (Monday, May 11, 2026) – Discover Wauwatosa will host the 5th annual ART 64® presented by North Shore Bank in The Village of Wauwatosa on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. This is the nation’s largest bracket-style, live painting tournament featuring 64 artists and a $20,000 grand prize.
New this year, prize money will be awarded to the artists who finish in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in final voting. Back again in 2026 is the artist market, which made more than $13,000 in sales for participating artists in its inaugural year in 2025. All told, ART 64 is expected to put more than $70,000 directly into the art community through prizes and sales.
“Wauwatosa cares deeply about the art community,” says Beth Gleesing, Tourism Specialist at Discover Wauwatosa. “ART 64 is a celebration of that, bringing a unique experience to the local community while supporting artists and businesses in the Village of Wauwatosa.”
ART 64 is the largest juried live painting tournament in Wisconsin, with 64 artists selected from a pool of 236 applicants coming from 30 states and 3 countries.
Patrons can watch the paintings come to life during the competition and can vote for their favorite paintings online. The artist in each pairing with the most votes advances to the next round. The third (and final) round features 16 artists competing for the grand prize. Paintings created at the event will be available for purchase through an online silent auction.
Photo from Discover Wauwatosa.
Approximately 12,000 people visited The Village of Wauwatosa during the event in 2025, quadruple the amount of the 3,000 visitors that attended the original 2022 event. The economic impact was $656,691 for the 2025 event, up nearly $80,000 from 2024. There were more than 12,000 votes cast last year, as well as nearly 100 paintings sold that were created during the event.
The free, family-friendly event will take place in The Village of Wauwatosa on Friday, June 5 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Saturday, June 6 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (with the Tosa Farmers Market happening a short walk away Saturday morning). Food and musical entertainment will be available on the streets holding the tournament, as well as a dedicated North Shore Bank-sponsored kids’ area. Local businesses will add to the festive ambiance with unique experiences. Limited edition ART 64 merchandise will be available for purchase during the event. To accommodate the event, Harwood Avenue, State Street, and Underwood Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic. DJ Dori Zori from 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will emcee the event.
Guests are encouraged to support local businesses in the event area before, during, and after the tournament, including at ART 64 major sponsors Frank & Larry’s Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club and Hollander Grand Café.
“ART 64 brings a special kind of magic to the heart of The Village of Wauwatosa each summer, and we’re excited to be back sponsoring another great year,” says Eric Wagner, founder and CEO of Lowlands Group. “As one of the premier events in the Milwaukee area, it’s a celebration of art, music, and local hospitality that Café Hollander and Buckatabon are proud to support.”
Last year, the winner of the $20,000 grand prize was Jianqiao Luan.
“Winning the grand prize has made more confident, and it has encouraged me to create more artworks,” says Luan. “The prize money helped me with my art career in so many different ways. ART 64 has changed how I think and my process when I paint. It was a great opportunity to try new things and challenge myself.”
For more information about ART 64 and to RSVP for event updates, please visit: discoverart64.com.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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