The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026

The 2026 To Write Art Visual Arts Quest was a free, worldwide online creative challenge for artists aged 16 and over. Designed to challenge creative thinking through a written conceptual and philosophical framework, the Quest invited artists to develop their own visual response. Three winners were recognised, with the first prize receiving access to a To Write Art program, and all three winners receiving Certificates of Achievement and features across To Write Art platforms.

The Visual Arts Quest is an annual part of the To Write Art community. Each year, a new Quest is introduced and new artists are recognised, creating an ongoing space for artists to think, create, and engage with a wider creative community.

Winners Announcement

We are delighted to announce the winners of The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026.
Congratulations to our talented artists who have achieved outstanding recognition in this year’s competition. Your creativity, dedication, and artistic vision have made a remarkable contribution to the Visual Arts Quest.

1st Place Winner
Caroline Jacob

Caroline Jacob
Be My Delusion
Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026

Does genius begin when something is made in reality? Or does it begin earlier, when something that doesn’t yet exist first appears in the imagination?

I had a dream that felt so real. I felt happy throughout it and then suddenly sad, anxious, terrified. I could feel tears falling down my face but I was still within the dream. When I woke up, the tears remained. It made me realise that perhaps imagination and reality may be closer than I thought.

Hence, she started on her quest. She danced and fought giants with Don Quixote under a tree of angels. She picked daisies for Gatsby. She wept with Poe as sand slipped through her fingers the more she tried to hold on, and finally, Gilman showed her a woman in the yellow wallpaper.

This artwork portrays the worlds created in our minds: memories, imagined futures, constructed identities and the realities we sometimes retreat from. An imagined version of ourselves may inspire us to become that person, but the same imagination can comfortably imprison us within an idealised past, present or future.

Exploring imagination, dreams and delusions has helped me realise my little world of art could become bigger. I found out moths have scales. I see different shades of green unite on a leaf and the way a bird follows its beak. Entering my artwork into the To Write Art Quest was my very first step, and I am grateful for the kind words and support I have received.

2nd Place Winner
Judith Venter

Judith Venter (DasWyf) is a South African visual artist whose practice weaves together science, sensory perception, and human experience. Holding degrees in Environmental and Natural Sciences alongside a qualification in Graphic Design, she uniquely fuses the observational depth of scientific systems with a bold, expressive visual language.
Guided by her core ethos, "Come view the world through my lens," Judith’s work explores how perspective shapes our understanding of reality. Her artistic journey brings a distinct poetry to themes of South African cultural diversity, the enduring resilience and strength of women, and the quiet harmony of nature. Whether portraying human connection, natural landscapes, or weathered treasures gathered along the coast, she seeks out the hidden beauty and strength beneath the surface.
Her tactile practice spans painting, sculpture, and mixed media, blending raw organic materials, light, and personal symbolism to create rich, multi-sensory experiences.
Judith’s work has earned international feature recognition and is held in private collections globally. Through her art, she invites viewers to pause, challenge conventional boundaries, and discover extraordinary moments of wonder within the world around them.

3rd Place Winner
Trista Southwell

ElfinTreestar (Trista Southwell) is a visionary artist whose creative practice weaves earthly and cosmic energies through themes of love, respect, connection and healing. Her work explores the realms of imagination, consciousness and the unseen, creating pieces that evoke emotion, curiosity and deep reflection.
Each artwork becomes a journey : a bridge between inner worlds and shared experience. Through her creative process, Trista translates the visions that flow through her into tangible forms, offering them to others to witness, feel and interpret in their own way.
Trista has worked as a professional tattoo artist since 2006 and is the owner and resident artist of Ferntree Studio on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Her artistic practice has evolved across a diverse range of mediums, from ink on skin to acrylics, oils, watercolours, oil and chalk pastels, pens, pencils and Posca.
Her work explores a continually evolving range of styles, including visionary art, psychedelia, realism, fantasy, folklore and mythology.
Through every piece she creates, Trista seeks to cultivate connection — between Earth and cosmos, artist and audience, imagination and embodiment.

To see more of her work:
ElfinTreestar
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/elfintreestar
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/elfintreestar
Ferntree Studio
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ferntree_studio
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cosmic.ink.au
Website: https://cosmicink.com.au/%3A-elfintreestar-%3A

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all three winners for their fantastic achievements in The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026. Your exceptional artworks and dedication to the creative process have been truly inspiring.

Thank You to All Participating Artists

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to artists from around the world who participated in The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026. Thank you for dedicating your time, creativity, passion, and effort to this international artistic journey. Every submission represented a unique vision and contribution to the world of visual arts. We proudly acknowledge the following artists whose outstanding works were submitted to the competition:

2026 Judging Panel

The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026 was judged by an independent panel of respected arts professionals. We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to: Isabeau Lynagh and Raneen Wardy. We are grateful for their time, expertise, and thoughtful consideration in reviewing the incredible range of artworks submitted.

Explore The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026

For those interested in exploring The Making of Genius Visual Arts Quest 2026, the original Quest presented to all participating artists is available for public viewing and download.

This document provides an insight into the creative challenge, themes, and ideas behind the 2026 Visual Arts Quest, allowing future participants, artists, and members of the public to understand what the Quest is about and how the competition is structured.

Download the 2026 Visual Arts Quest here:

The making of genius 2026

Visual Arts Quest 2027

Registration for Visual Arts Quest 2027 will open on 1 July 2027, when a new creative Quest will be unveiled and presented to the public.

Stay tuned for more information, announcements, and updates about the next competition.