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Join us for the 28th annual Art Alive! This contest invites participants to create living representations of famous works of art for great prizes. These stunning replicas—often called tableaux—can be made using people, props, and your own creativity. Anyone can participate, including students, community groups, organizations, families, and individuals.

This year, we are celebrating all things Buffalo AKG! Participants are invited to take a closer look at the museum’s collection and AKG Public Art Initiative as they select their tableaux. We are excited to see the community’s interpretation of our works! 

More than $4,000 in prizes will be awarded to the creators of winning tableaux. Local judges will select the Judges’ Choice, Best Craftsmanship, and Most Creative Entry. These awards will be given in each category: School Groups Grades K–8, School Groups Grades 9–12, Individual Adults (Ages 18+), Individual Kids and Teens (Ages 17 and under), and Households/Community Groups.

We invite the entire community to join us to see the overwhelming creativity on display and vote for your favorite tableaux in the People’s Choice Awards. Join us for artmaking activities with the Art Truck, a performance by DJ Brei, and more to celebrate this special community event.

In celebration of Marisol: A Retrospective, there will be a category dedicated to Marisol artworks in our collection! 

This year's winning entries are listed below.

Winners

People’s Choice Awards

Best tableau in the Individual: Adults category:

Vicente Rondon for David Altmejd's Untitled, 2011.

Best tableau in the Groups/Household category:

Starlight AKG WOW Day Program for Marisol's The Fishman, 1973.

Best tableau in the School: K–8 category:

Nichols Middle School for Franz Marc's Die Wölfe (Balkankrieg) [The Wolves (Balkan War)], 1913. 

Best tableau in the School: 9–12 category:

Nichols School for Tom Wesselmann's Still Life #20, 1962. 

Best tableau in the Individual: Kids category:

River for Shantell Martin's Dance Everyday, 2017. 

Groups/Household

Judges' Choice: Ducky Book Club for Jackson Pollock's Convergence, 1952. 

Best Craftsmanship: Cousins! for Mark Freeland's 2 green aliens, ca. 2002–2006.

Most Creative: Ben and Sam Whitehouse for Marisol's Gus Key (also called Face, Foot, and Keys), 1974. 
 

Schools: K–8

Best Craftsmanship: North Tonawanda Intermediate School Art Alive Club for Joan Miro's The Garden, 1925. 
 

Schools: 9–12

Best Craftsmanship: Quinn Dio for Amherst High School for Casey Riordan's Shark Girl, 2013. 

Most Creative: Frontier High School for Tony Oursler's Junk, 2003. 
 

Individual: Kids

Judges' Choice: Jack for Alberto Giacometti's Man Walking (Version I), 1960. 

Best Craftsmanship: Forest for Alison Saar's Bareroot, 2007. 

Most Creative: Olivia for Robert Henri's Tam Gan, 1914.
 

Best Marisol

Individual: Adults: Claudia Tinta for Marisol's ABCDEFG & Hi, 1961–1962.

Groups/Household: Teen Runway On a Mission for Marisol's The Party, 1965–66.

Art Alive Judges

Joel P. Feroleto, Delaware District Council member

Drea D’Nur, Artist and Founder of Feed Buffalo

Cain McDermott, Co-Founder of Buffalo Fashion Runway

Mary Margaret Keenan-Brown, the Buffalo AKG’s Events Coordinator

Grace Tate, a member of the Buffalo AKG’s Board of Directors