“One, two, three, let’s paint!” someone shouts into a microphone. Armed with brushes and palettes, six artists simultaneously spring into action, and the night officially begins.
I’m standing in Crayon Kelly Experience, a gallery in St. Louis Park’s West End, where the artists are about to go head-to-head in a live painting competition known as Art Battle Minnesota—a local offshoot of the global Art Battle International. Founded in 2001 in New York City as a response to gatekeeping in the art world, Art Battle encourages making and selling art without any pretension—the barrier of entry for artists is next to none, and the power lies in the hands of the audience.
Here’s how it works: Once a month, 12 artists face off in three rounds of live painting, with just 20 minutes to create an original piece of their choice. After the first and second rounds, the audience can vote for (and bid on) their favorites, and the top four contestants advance to a final round to compete for the crown. The winner receives an award, a cash prize, and the chance to move onto state, national, and even world championship competitions.
Photo by Uche Iroegbu
Kelly Anderson, the gallery’s owner and founder of creative strategy agency Crayon Kelly, competed in Art Battle Chicago three years ago and wondered why Minnesota didn’t have its own event. “I thought it was really neat to be around other artists that were motivated, and uplifting and challenging each other,” she says. In 2023, Anderson worked with Simon Plashkes, president of Art Battle International, to get a recurring monthly event off the ground. After a few floating pop-ups, Art Battle Minnesota found its home at The Shops at West End last fall—where it has since fostered a tight-knit community of local artists and art lovers alike.
As you step inside, it’s impossible to overlook the talent that has graced the Art Battle stage. The walls are lined with works that didn’t sell during past competitions—all of which are available for purchase, Anderson explains, offering a chance to support the artists directly, even after the battles are over.
With 20 minutes on the clock, I watch as the artists lay down their first brush strokes. Some have a flair for the abstract, applying brightly colored backgrounds to set the tone for their piece; others are more calculated, starting with simple outlines while taking note of their reference photos. I join the group of excited onlookers circling the painters, stopping briefly to admire each creation.
Photo by Uche Iroegbu
Among the attendees are Steve and Ronda Oliver, who have only missed a few Art Battle Minnesota events since its inception. “We don’t go to a lot of things like this. This is really exceptional,” Steve tells me. “A lot of the people are very accomplished artists who are challenged to do something in 20 minutes. That’s what makes it unique… somebody can work on a painting for 48 hours, three days, or two weeks, and get very different results. For some of these painters, that’s how they work, until they get here.”
As the first round comes to a close, six one-of-a-kind paintings emerge before my eyes—a collection ranging from landscapes and self-portraits to whimsical depictions of plants and animals. A QR code directs me to the online voting platform, and I cast my ballot for a smiling, pastel-toned llama and a watercolor sparrow perched on a branch.
Photo by Uche Iroegbu
Like Anderson, artist Juanita Tatum felt an immediate connection to Art Battle when she first participated in 2023. Despite feeling nervous to partake, she made it to the final round of her debut competition and left with a heightened sense of confidence and encouragement to keep going. “Some of us don’t realize that we’re good enough to call ourselves artists,” Tatum says. “We need people to lift people up… artists uplifting artists. That’s what I try to do.”
This sense of community is palpable throughout the evening. After each battle round, the artists chat and admire each other’s work—some recognize familiar faces from previous events, while others make new connections as first timers. But in a setting like Art Battle, every artist is considered equal, and it’s the camaraderie, not competition, that matters most.
The connections formed at Art Battles often extend beyond the events themselves, Anderson explains. Crayon Kelly Experience also hosts classes, workshops, and weekly art community nights where past Art Battle winners have come back to teach their skills to beginners. “There’s a lot of cross-pollination and just providing a safe space for all the artists to grow and learn,” she says.
As the battle concludes and I head for the door, a painting of a tuxedo cat donning a black-and-white turtleneck and a bright orange neck scarf catches my eye. I purchase the piece without hesitation, while Anderson and Tatum snap a photo to send to the artist. It’s a small exchange that reminds me of the spirit of the event itself: celebrating creativity, fostering connections, and breaking down barriers between artist and audience.
To find more information and purchase tickets for the next Art Battle Minnesota event, visit artbattle.com.
