Where Talent Meets Triumph: Past Winners of the Visual Art Open
- Visual Art Open
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 6
The Visual Art Open (VAO) Award is not just a competition—it's a launchpad for creative talent. Each year, it brings together a vibrant mix of both emerging and established artists, offering them a unique platform to showcase their work.
Join us as we take a closer look at the past winners of the VAO award—artists whose work not only captivated the judges but also left a lasting, meaningful impression on the art world.
VAO 2024 Overall Winner: Sofía Ruíz
The Visual Art Open Award shines a light on exceptional talent from across the globe, and in 2024 that spotlight fell on Sofía Ruíz, a Latin American artist whose deeply personal and emotionally resonant work captured the hearts of the judges and audience alike.
Born in San José, Costa Rica, Ruíz draws from the dualities of presence and absence, blending fragmented memories with vivid imagery that speaks to anyone who's ever felt like a stranger in their own life.
Through haunting, isolated figures—often children—Ruíz confronts the trauma of watching both her mother and grandmother forget who she was, offering a visual representation of the disorientation and resilience that shaped her upbringing.
Ruiz's win is not just a celebration of powerful storytelling through art - it's a testament to the VAO's mission to elevate voices that challenge, inspire, and redefine the boundaries. Sofía Ruiz stands as a shining example of how personal narrative, raw emotion, and artistic innovation can come together and create something truly beautiful.
Now, for the VAO 2025 Award, Sofía returns—not just as a past winner, but as a VAO judge, bringing her insight, experience, and artistic integrity to the next generation of talent.
Learn more about Sofía
Follow Her Journey
VAO 2024 Illustration & Drawing Category Winner: Flo Meissner
Flo Meissner is a German artist and illustrator whose work delves deeply into the human condition, beauty and the fleeting nature of existence. With a foundation in graphic design, Flo gravitated towards illustration in his creative journey, using vivid and surreal imagery to explore emotional depth and introspection.
His category winning piece 'Growing Apart' emerged from a profoundly transformative period in his life. Reflecting on the artwork, Flo shares: "It represents a harsh cut, a moment where life would never be the same as it was. But by being able to let go, there is room for growth"
This theme of seperation and renewal resonates strongly in the piece, offering viewers a raw and relatable glimpse into change and emotional evolution. Looking ahead, Flo's creative goals include returning to analog drawing and experimenting with different mediums. Harnessing this to further expand the emotional and visual language of his work.
Follow Flo's Journey
Flo on Instagram
VAO 2023 Overall Winner: Isabel Couceiro
Isabel Couceiro is a rising voice in contemporary figurative painting. Born in 2002, the Portuguese-American artist is currently based in Boston, MA, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Boston University.
Isabel's journey as a painter began in 2017 at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where her foundation in classical techniques began to take shape.
Working primarily in oil, Isabel blends traditional and contemporary techniques to create evocative figurative pieces that explore themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and human connection. Her work captures moments that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Isabel was named the Visual Art Open 2023 overall winner, which marked a significant milestone in her artistic development.
In a recent interview with Visual Artists Association on YouTube, Isabel reflected on her journey through Visual Art Open (VAO) — an experience she describes as a turning point in her early career.
"My experience was really great" Isabel shared. "I think VAO was the most formative thing in my budding career so far"
From the initial longlist to becoming a finalist, Isabel described the excitement of following each stage of the competition alongside her family. "We kept checking all the entries," she recalled. "When I became a finalist and knew I'd be going to London for the exhibition, it was a huge milestone—my first ever finalist situation." Attending the final exhibition in London proved to be even more meaningful than she expected. Not only did she win the overall award, but the event also connected her with a vibrant community of fellow creatives. "I'm so glad I went," Isabel said. "I met an amazing team of people—the networking and friendships I made there have carried over more than anything else."
The VAO marked not just a recognition of Isabel's talent, but also a launchpad into a broader artistic community—one that continues to support and inspire her as her career unfolds.
Watch Isabel's Interview with VAA
Follow Her Journey
Follow Isabel on Instagram
As the Visual Art Open (VAO) celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025, the competition continues to be a beacon for both emerging and established artists worldwide. Over the past decade, VAO has recognized and elevated talents such as the artists featured here, as well as many more talented, gifted individuals.
The 2025 edition promises to uphold this legacy of excellence.
The competition spans six distinct categories:
Painting, Mixed Media & Printmaking, Illustration & Drawing, Sculpture, Photography & Digital Art, Student Artists, and Art Educators.
As we await the announcement of the 2025 winners, the excitement within the art community is palpable. The VAO continues to be a vital platform for artists to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, and gain the recognition they deserve.
Stay tuned for updates on the 2025 finalists and winners, and join us in celebrating a decade of artistic innovation and excellence.
There's still time to leave your mark—entries for the Visual Art Open Award 2025 are open until June 11th.
Don't miss this opportunity to take your art to the next level. Apply now and let your work be seen.
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