The Poo-tastic Tasmanian Paint Off 2025

Bob Brown, painted by Ewen Welsh using pademelon poo

The world’s most extraordinary and wonderfully weird art competition is back!

We’re once again on the hunt for high-quality, imaginative artworks created using—yes, you guessed it—poo!

 

To enter, you’ll need to submit five parts:

1. Artwork

  • Theme: EXPRESSIVE PORTRAITS: FACES WITH FAECES
  • Paint to be used: Animal faeces (human faeces are prohibited)
  • Pencil outlines are allowed. No additional paint such as watercolour, acrylic paint, spray paint, or oil paint may be used.
  • The addition of water and a binding medium (e.g. gum arabic or PVA glue) is permitted.
  • Mixed media elements may be included for effect, as long as the poo paint remains the primary medium.
  • Surface material: Any type of white or coloured paper, including cardboard. A high paper weight is recommended to minimise buckling and warping. Canvas, wood, plastic, and any other non-paper surfaces are not permitted.
  • Size: Suitable for A2 frame, portrait orientation
  • The artwork must be the original concept of the submitting artist and must have been created in 2025. Copying the style of other artists, even as homage, is not allowed.
  • Entries must not contain any offensive or inappropriate imagery or language. Submissions that include such content will be disqualified.

 

2. Written description (Word or PDF file, 250–300 words)

  • Title of the artwork
  • Types of faeces and other materials used, including the type of paper
  • Description of the artistic process, including:
    – Reason for choosing the subject
    – Source of the faeces
    – Steps involved in creating the artwork
    – Any difficulties encountered

 

3. Short bio of the submitting artist (100–150 words)

 

4. High-resolution headshot of the artist

 

5. Process video (4–5 minutes)

  • Documenting the creation of the artwork
  • Narrated or with suitable background music

 

Entry form

Click here to enter.
Note: You must have the password from your registration email to access the entry form.

The rules

Please read the rules carefully to avoid disqualification.

  • The competition is open to Tasmanian amateur and professional artists aged 16 and over. For safety reasons, children are not permitted to participate.
  • Each competitor may submit up to two artworks.
  • There is no registration fee.
  • Submissions that are missing any required components will be automatically disqualified.
  • Shortlisted artworks must be submitted framed (simple black wooden A2 frame) and equipped with hanging hardware.
  • The three winning artworks will be displayed at the Pooseum in Richmond. The Pooseum will take ownership of these artworks, including the frames. All other finalists will receive their artworks back after the conclusion of the competition.
  • The winners will be chosen by a team of jurors and public voting.

Judging criteria

Creativity and originality

Thematic interpretation

Quality of the painting - artistic skills demonstrated, composition, level of detail

Quality of the process video and written information

Prizes

1st Prize $2000

2nd Prize $1000

3rd Prize $500

Key dates

13th - 28th September:
Registration is open via the Pooseum website.
6th - 17th October:
Online submissions are due via the Pooseum website (high-resolution photos of the artwork and the artist, process video, written description, short bio).
24th October:
Notifications of shortlisted artworks are sent out.
12th - 16th November:
Shortlisted framed artworks to be handed in at the Pooseum.
19th Nov - 7th December:
Public display of shortlisted artworks at the Pooseum.
8th December:
The winners of the 2025 Poo-tastic Tasmanian Paint Off are announced.

Disclaimer

There are many diseases that can be transmitted by animal faeces. We highly recommend always handling faeces with gloves and wearing a mask while painting. Competitors are responsible for the safe handling of the animal faeces with which they create their paintings. The Pooseum does not take responsibility for any ill effects caused by competitors not using faeces in a safe manner.

Any questions regarding the competition?

Please email Karin Koch at info@pooseum.com.au.

2024 Competition Winners

Click here to view last year’s shortlisted entries. You can also watch some of the process videos from last year on the Pooseum Facebook page, posted in November 2024.