ART WAR™
ART WAR™ is an original program of The Art Thing Collaborative, Inc. All content, names, and concepts associated with this event are the intellectual property of The Art Thing Collaborative and may not be copied, reproduced, or used without written permission.
What is an Art WAR™
Art WAR is a live, interactive, collaborative artmaking showdown where teams of four to six student artists, alongside their art professor “Coach”, work through a series of fast-paced artistic challenges in front of a live audience. Each round asks the teams to respond to prompts inspired by art history, creative constraints, and unexpected twists.
Think game show meets collaborative art jam session!
Each Art WAR event unfolds through a series of timed creative rounds where teams must work through a series of creative rounds responding to prompts rooted in art history movements, styles, and famous artists, interpreted in totally unexpected ways.
Every round is full of surprises, pushing teams to think differently, work together, and embrace the unpredictable nature of creativity.
With a DJ, a hype MC, and the community crowd cheering the teams on, Art WAR is the Ultimate Creative Showdown of skill, teamwork, and creative risk-taking.
The Intercollegiate Art WAR Tournament Series
Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation following a successful pilot event at Herkimer College last spring, Art WAR is expanding into a regional Intercollegiate Tournament Series for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Participating schools will host their own campus intermural Art WAR events in the fall semester, where students will get to experience their first Art WAR on their own turf.
Then, in the spring 2027 semester, those teams travel to other campuses (and/or host visiting teams) for intercollegiate matchups, allowing students to represent their own school while connecting with other student artists across the region.
A campus-meets-community thing:
Art Wars are for everyone! The public is always invited to come out, watch the creative process unfold, cheer on the student artists as they work through the challenges, throw curveballs into the mix, and even jump into the action.
Whether you're making art, hyping up your team, or just soaking in the creative energy Art War™ is an Art Thing for you!
The first warrior steps forward to confront the artist's ultimate enemy: the blank canvas.
Even the greatest artists need inspiration… and every warrior needs a battle pose!
"FOOD FIGHT!!!"
“Don’t fix. Don’t perfect. Feel. Let go. WABI SABI!”
“Take over. Own it. Push the art forward!"
“Only the strongest lines survive. Only the boldest marks earn the master's gaze.”
“You, the audience, will help us shake things up…”
“This is your last stand!"
“This… is ART WAR!"
One team. One masterpiece. One unforgettable night.
This wasn’t just a showdown. It was ART WAR™!!
Our very first team-based ART WAR™ exploded into action at Herkimer College, and y’all, it was legendary!
Paint flew. Colors clashed. Blueberries splattered.
This wasn’t a quiet gallery night.
Artists rose. Canvases fell. The crowd ROARED.
And together, we created something no one could’ve made alone.
Major shoutout to Herkimer College, the Art Club, Vicki Brown, and Justin Como for teaming up with us on this one.
Huge thanks to our sponsors: Golden Artist Colors, Stewart’s, Ace Hardware, Pohlig’s, and Paradise Eatery for keeping us equipped and fresh.
And big love to MC Mike Cecconi and DJ Mitch (SST Media) for keeping the battlefield bumpin’.
To everyone who showed up—artists, audience, volunteers:
You made this real.
Scroll down to witness the war. The Art War™ Gallery is live!
Art WAR™ @ Herkimer College
All event photos by Kat Schafer
Art War™ at Herkimer College was made possible in part with support from the Stewarts Community Giving and Support.
April 16, 2025
Did you know? Art Wars™ are just one of our many Educational Programs!