Why I’m Thrilled to Enter the Artists Network Over-60 Competition — and Why It Matters for Women Art-Makers
December 8, 2025 · Fei Wu
As I completed my entry for the 19th Annual Over 60 Art Competition from Artists Network, I find myself reflecting on what this contest truly represents. Not just for me, but for the many women artists who continue creating, imagining, and contributing long after society expects them to slow down.
While this competition is open to women and men over the age of 60, I want to share our story and experience as to why women artists, in particular, need to prioritize this opportunity.
Celebrating Experience, Not Fading into the Background
The art world often gravitates toward what is young and emerging. Fresh voices are important, but there is a richness and quiet strength that comes only from time. The Over 60 competition from Artists Network is one of the few platforms that openly celebrates this. It values art created by mature hands and seasoned eyes. It says that age is not a limitation but a dimension of expression.
For women artists, this is especially meaningful. Too often, women receive recognition late, if at all. These competitions remind us that support for women artists must happen while they are creating, not only after they are gone or rediscovered decades later.
More Than a Hobby: A Lifelong Profession and Calling
Some people view older artists as hobbyists. Xiang Li has been called and referred to be as a hobbyist more than once. This is after she’s spent nearly 40 years working as a professional artist at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China.
But the Over 60 competition is intentionally professional. It invites serious artists to submit their strongest work in drawing, painting, pastel, or mixed media. This matters because many older women have carried entire lifetimes of quiet practice, informal training, or full creative careers. They deserve to be seen not as “retired creators” but as continuing contributors to the culture.
Competitions like this help correct the imbalance. They make space for artists who have mastered their craft, even if the world only notices them now.
Building Community and Visibility in a New Chapter of Life
Another strength of this competition is the sense of belonging it creates. Visibility is one of the greatest gifts an artist can receive, no matter the age. The Over 60 competition recognizes ten winners each year and shares their work through Artists Network’s magazine and online channels. This kind of exposure can be transformative. It brings new opportunities and connects artists with new audiences who may never have discovered them otherwise.
What This Means to Xiang Li
For Xiang Li, entering the competition is both an act of courage and celebration. Over the past two years, she has shown her Chinese empress paintings and dragons across museums, colleges, public libraries, and community events. These exhibitions brought joy to children, families, and communities who felt seen through stories of ancient Chinese women.
To enter Over 60 is a continuation of that journey. It is a way to say that Xiang’s art still grows, her stories still evolve, and her heart still speaks through brush, color, mineral pigment, and silk. It reminds all of us that it is never too late to share our voices.
Why These Competitions Matter in the Larger Art World
Competitions that focus on older artists bring balance to a system that often celebrates youth above all. They:
• Challenge assumptions about who deserves recognition
• Provide real professional support such as cash awards and publication
• Spotlight women who have carried artistic traditions for decades
• Help build a community of creators who understand each other’s journeys
• Encourage visibility for artists who are not represented by galleries or mainstream institutions
There are other examples of recognition for older women artists, such as the Anonymous Was A Woman Award and regional grants through arts councils across the United States. All of them point to the same belief: the world needs the art and stories of mature women.
Practical Guidance for Women Artists Over 60
From my own experience, here are a few practices that can help:
• Keep creating regularly, even in small pieces
• Document your work carefully, including titles, dates, and photos (and share on social media regularly including finished work but also those that are work in progress)
• Build connections with other local or online women artists
• Collaborate across generations when possible
• Enter competitions, apply for exhibitions, and allow yourself to be seen
• Treat your work as professional, even if you started later in life
Creativity has no deadline. It grows with us.
A Vision for the Future
I hope more organizations follow the example of Artists Network. The Over 60 competition gives women like Xiang Li a place to stand proudly and say: “My art continues. My voice continues. My contribution continues.”
For any woman reading this who is over 60 and wondering if it’s her time to try, share, or submit — I hope you take this as encouragement. The world needs your story, your colors, your memories, your hands, and your vision. You are not too late. You are right on time.