Before You Apply
Sponsored by Joshua Roth
This annual competition recognizes and encourages newer bonsai practitioners in North America. Contestants are selected based on examples of their work, then compete during All Jazzed Up by styling comparable pre-bonsai material provided by the organizers. Please read this in full before completing the application below.
Past winners of the New Talent Contest aren't eligible to compete again, and individuals may participate no more than twice.
All applicants, including previous participants, must complete the application below and submit photographs of at least three bonsai they've personally designed and styled. We encourage more than one photo of each bonsai — before-and-after photos are especially helpful when available, though not required. Photos don't need to be publication quality, but should clearly show your work. Please include a brief description and history of each bonsai, and remember that submitted work should represent your own design and styling.
Submit your photographs as JPG, JPEG, or PNG files, and clearly identify each tree in your submitted materials. The upload field only accepts a single file, so if you're submitting photos of more than one bonsai, zip them together into one file before uploading. If you're not able to create a ZIP file, upload one photo through the form and email the rest directly to John Ruth at [email protected].
The New Talent Contest Selection Committee will review the applications and select the contestants. The committee will notify selected applicants by email.
Each contestant will be randomly assigned pre-bonsai material supplied by the contest organizers. We'll make every effort to provide material of comparable size and quality, and won't disclose the species or characteristics of the competition material in advance. Contestants will have the designated competition period to design and style their assigned tree.
Additional competition instructions, including setup and cleanup procedures, will be provided to selected contestants before the event.
Three appointed bonsai artists will judge the completed trees and select the Winning Tree, First Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up. Results will be announced at the All Jazzed Up Banquet & Awards Ceremony on March 13, 2027.
After judging, each contestant may purchase the tree they styled at cost. Trees not purchased by contestants remain the property of the American Bonsai Society and may be sold at auction. Competition trees will remain on display until noon on Sunday, March 14, 2027, unless the contest organizers direct otherwise.
We appreciate your interest in the ABS New Talent Contest and look forward to seeing the work of the next generation of bonsai artists in North America. Fill out the fields below to apply.
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Joshua Roth—American Bonsai Society New Talent Competition Applicant Declaration.
Please read and attest to each of the following requirements and understandings for this competition:
