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Stems Plein Air Paint, Kansas City’s original plein air event begins May 1st!
Paint from May 1st to May 31st.

click here to register

Painting: When & Where?

  • Artists have the entire month of May to paint!
  • No canvas stamps.  No packets.  Just register and paint!
  • Artists can paint the entire KC Metro Area on both sides of the state line!
    • This also includes The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens and the City of Overland Park, KS.
  • Featuring the optional Magic Hour Quick Paint in Downtown Overland Park
    5pm-7:30pm!
    • Hosted by The Rice Gallery of Fine Art.
    • $500 Cash Purchase Award!
  • Also featuring The Rice Gallery & Stems Plein Air $500 Cash Purchase Award at the Historic West Bottoms Association Plein Air Event on May 17th!

Submissions and Judging

  • Submit up to 3 of your best plein air paintings for judging.  Paintings must be original plein air paintings painted in the designated area during the month of May 2026.
  • Paintings will be submitted and judged online via a simplified process.

Prizes & Exhibition

  • Selected paintings are eligible for:
    • Thousands in CASH PRIZES!
    • A feature show at The Rice Gallery of Fine Art in June!

World Cup changes to Stems: A Garden Soirée

  • The one-night Garden Soirée sale has been moved to May 16th this year so it won’t conflict with the World Cup schedule.  Since this happens right in the middle of our painting schedule, we will be asking our registered artists to submit additional images, separate from our main event, via email of plein air paintings to be included in this one-night painting sale.  From those submissions we will jury select paintings to be included for sale in the Stems Garden Soirée one-night show.
    • Eligible paintings for this one-night show must be plein air paintings painted in the KC area anytime during 2025 to present (more details will be shared once you are registered).
    • These paintings are separate from the paintings created for Stems Plein Air Paint 2026.

All artists must pre-register to participate in the plein air painting event.
$40 to register

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Stems Plein Air Paint is brought to you by
The Rice Gallery of Fine Art & Friends of Overland Park Arts.

A portion of all sales benefit Friends of Overland Park Arts,
part of the Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, and its mission
to expand arts opportunities and public art in Overland Park.

*Event organizers reserve the right to alter and adjust event dates and deadlines if necessary.