The Buffalo AKG announced that the museum is seeking submissions for its annual Art Alive celebration, which will be held on the Great Lawn on the museum’s campus on October 4, 2025. In celebration of Yayoi Kusama: One with Eternity, there will be a category dedicated to works by Kusama in the museum’s collection.

Art Alive is an annual contest that 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.

More than $4,000 in prizes will be awarded to the creators of winning tableaux, though each entry is only eligible for one prize. Local judges will select the Best Tableaux from the Buffalo AKG’s Collection or AKG Public Art, Best Craftsmanship, and Most Creative Entry. These awards will be given in each category: Grades K–8, Grades 9–12, Individual: Adults, Individual: Kids, and Households/Community Groups.

The museum invites the entire community to join this event to see the overwhelming creativity on display and vote for their favorite tableaux in the People’s Choice Awards. There will be music, art activities, and more to celebrate this special community event.

Interested in participating? Complete and submit the Art Alive entry form and get to work on your tableaux! The deadline to enter is Friday, September 12, 2025.

All participating tableaux will receive a $100 gift card for participation and to defray tableau construction costs.

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About the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Founded in 1862, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the United States. For more than 160 years, the Buffalo AKG has collected, conserved, and exhibited the art of its time, often working directly with living artists. This tradition has given rise to one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of modern and contemporary art.

In June 2023, following the completion of the most significant campus development and expansion project in its history, the Buffalo AKG opened anew to the public. The project was funded by a $230 million capital campaign, the largest such campaign for a cultural institution in the history of Western New York, including $195 million raised for construction and $35 million in additional operating endowment funds.

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