Artwork by @darren.shaddick
After a bunch of requests (and a few lovingly persistent DMs), the Slowdown Art Comp is officially back, and we’re so ready for it.
We know how hard it is for emerging artists to break through the noise, especially when the algorithm’s not on your side. So if you think your art belongs on a Slowdown blanket, we want to see it.
This year, 12 winning designs will be woven into our signature throw blankets and featured in the 2026 Slowdown Studio calendar.
Each selected artist will receive:
• $1,0500 USD
• Their very own woven blanket with their own design
• A featured spotlight on them, their practice and their art across all our channels.
Every selected artist will be featured through:
- Minimum two dedicated collaboration posts on our Instagram
- Paid partnerships that will be sponsored by Slowdown Studio, featuring the artist’s profile & handle
- A homepage feature on slowdownstudio.com
- A spotlight in our Artist of the Month blog series
- A highlight in our email newsletter
- Multiple Pinterest pins shared with our community of art-and-design lovers
And we’re not just celebrating the final twelve! We’ll be sharing our favorite entries throughout the comp, too. So whether you win or not, there’s still a chance to be seen and celebrated.
Know someone we should know? Pass it on.
How to enter:
- Post your artwork on Instagram between June 1–20, 2025
- You will need to tag @slowdownstudio in the image and use the hashtag #slowdownartcomp2025 in your caption for it to count as an entry.
- Format your work to fit a throw blanket shape — we suggest a 3:4 ratio (portrait)
New art? Great. But also know that you can submit old designs you've had forever. There’s no theme, no set color palette or creative direction. Just art you love, in your own voice. As long as your art is 100% original and human-made, we’d love to see it. In other words, no AI, no borrowed elements, no shortcuts.
You can submit up to three entries (in separate posts or one carousel). The top 30 artworks will be announced on June 23rd, with a public voting commencing on our website from June 23rd- 29th. The 12 winners will be announced on July 4th.
Please see the FAQ's and Terms & Conditions below - feel free to reach out if you have any questions! submissions@slowdownstudio.com
FAQs
Got questions? We got answers
Q: Do artists get a percentage of blanket sales?
We used to do it this way, with a % of sales on top of a lower winning prize. Now we've incorporated the average commission into a much higher, guaranteed flat rate of $1,500 so that everything is transparent, fairer and honors every artist equally. Taking into account the fact that some designs may not sell as well as others, we want to ensure that our art competition stays true to the original vision of rewarding creativity. Therefore, we’d rather equally reward both the quirky designs that only sell a few blankets as well as the more commercially viable designs. This competition is about finding distinct, creative voices. That’s what we’re here to celebrate.
Q: What kind of art can I submit?
Digital, hand-drawn, painted, mixed media - all art is welcome. If you're a sculptor, just photograph your work in a way that feels blanket-ready.
Q: Does it need to be new work?
Not at all. As long as you’re posting it during the entry window, we’re open to old favorites and new art alike.
Q: Does my submission need to be oriented in any specific direction - portrait or landscape?
Either works. We’ve woven both before.
Q: Is there a color limit?
Nope. If you love color, go wild! We do too ;)
Q: Can I submit more than once?
Yes, you can submit up to three entries. Please post each artwork submission individually.
Q: Who picks the winners?
Our Slowdown Studio team does along with some guest judges and they take the whole thing really seriously. It is our favorite time of year, tbh... and Christmas ofc.
Q: Can I use AI to create or enhance my submission?
No. This is a human-made art zone. We want the magic that only human hands can make. No prompts, no AI-generated images, no machine learning - just your own imagination.
Q: What size/resolution do you need?
Just make sure it’s high-res enough that we can really see your work clearly. If you’re selected, we’ll ask for a print-ready file (300 dpi).
Q: Can I submit a collage of multiple works as one entry?
A: If the collage itself is a single finished artwork, then sure! But please don’t send us a mash-up of different pieces in one post - each entry should stand on its own.
Q: Can I enter if I’m not based in the U.S.?
Absolutely. Slowdown is proudly international. Slowdown is a global community that has no borders. We’ve worked with artists in dozens of countries, many languages and we’re excited to meet more of you.
Q: Can I enter if I’ve submitted before or even won in a past Art Comp?
A: Heck yes! We’re all about evolving voices and new work. If you’ve got something fresh you’re proud of, send it our way.
Q: What are you not looking for?
No AI, licensed characters, logos, or anyone else’s intellectual property - that's all a big no. And nothing that just follows trends. We want art that feels like you.
Q: How do I know if I made the Top 30?
We’ll post the shortlist to Instagram and DM everyone who makes the top 30. If you’re in, you’ll definitely hear from us.
Q: What happens if I make the Top 30?
A. Check your Instagram DM's from June 20th - 22nd as we will reach out to you to let you know of the great news. We will require for you to send us your email address so we can collect the artwork and some additional informational on the weekend in order for us to prepare for voting to start.
Q: Is there public voting?
Yep! Once the Top 30 goes live, voting opens on our website and the community gets to help us pick the final 12. Friends, family, your barista - they will all be able to vote once per artwork, per email.
Q: Do I need to mail anything?
A: No mailing necessary. Submissions are all digital via our website. If you win, we’ll take it from there (and maybe mail you a celebratory throw!)
Q: Can I withdraw my submission?
Sure! Just let us know before June 20 and we will take your name out of the hat. No hard feelings.
📝 Terms & Conditions
(The boring but essential bits you should know about)
-
Ownership & Usage Rights
You keep full ownership of your artwork. If selected, you’ll grant Slowdown exclusive commercial rights to produce and promote the blanket and/or other products for up to 3 years, plus 6 months to sell remaining stock. You can still sell prints or the original, just not in collaboration with another brand.
- Submission Guidelines
Opens: June 1, 2025
Deadline: June 20, 2025 (11:59 PM PT)
Max 3 entries per artist
Top 30 announced: June 23
12 Winners revealed: July 4th
-
Artist Agreement
Winners will be asked to sign a standard agreement to move forward with production and promotion to keep everything clear and above board. -
Originality
By submitting, you confirm that your artwork is 100% your own creation and does not infringe on any existing copyrights, trademarks, or intellectual property rights. All submissions must be original, human-made works - no AI prompts, or digital shortcuts allowed. This is about your creativity, not artificial ones. -
Timing
We do our best to stick to the planned release schedule, we reserve the right to adjust blanket release dates as needed. Art takes time, and we’re all about doing it right. -
Open to All
This competition is open to artists worldwide. Payments will be made in USD, and international transfer fees (if any) are the responsibility of the artist.
