‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Launches ‘Art Awakens’ Fan Contest

Contemporary art inspired by film and television has become so popular that it’s attracted cult followings and given way to entire galleries devoted to pop culture artwork. If you’re an artist — and Star Wars fan — who feels as though your artwork would be right at home in a similar professional exhibition, Lucasfilm and HP are giving you the chance to use the (creative) Force and prove your worth.

Today, the companies announced their partnership on Art Awakens, a new art contest which asks fans to “bend the rules of the Force” to create works centered around our favorite galaxy far, far away. The two-month program launched today, August 11, and if you’re an amateur artist living in the U.S., you can submit your Star Wars-centric art to ArtAwakens.com for consideration.

If your art leaves an impression, you’ll be considered for an “upcoming professional art exhibit” to debut later this year. Five winners will be chosen by a panel of judges including members of Disney, Lucasfilm and the legendary visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic, among others.

Lucasfilm announced a new exhibition at Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles, with proceeds benefiting UNICEF. The winning artwork will be exhibited at the gallery:

Additionally, coming this November to Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles is a three-day Star Wars: The Force Awakens art exhibit featuring top professional and emerging contemporary artists. All new original pieces will be auctioned off in the name of Star Wars: Force for Change to benefit UNICEF Kid Power, which gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power band, kids earn points which unlock food packets for malnourished children around the world.

There are already a handful of submissions up on the official Art Awakens site, including a rather impressive drawing of a Stormtrooper — on a napkin.

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