What Does Life Mean to You? Theme of Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 11
At Arts to Hearts Project, every theme we explore begins with a question one that artists, dreamers, and thinkers have asked for generations. This time, it’s simple yet profound: What does life mean to you?
After a decade of celebrating stories through art, we felt it was time to turn inward to pause and look closely at the one thing that connects us all, no matter where we come from or what paths we take: Life
Artwork Submitted by Michelle Ramand @michelleramand
Life is more than the moments we live it is the feeling that lingers between them. It’s found in a mother’s gentle glance, in the quiet hum of a city at dawn, in the messy beauty of uncertainty, and in the warmth of a sunset that reminds us we made it through another day.
It’s the way time slows down when you’re lost in creation. It’s the laughter that fills a room, and the silence that follows when words fall short. It’s the ache of longing, the comfort of belonging, and the strange in-between where both can coexist.
Life is the conversation between chaos and calm the way tears and joy often share the same heartbeat. It’s the art of becoming: a constant rhythm of breaking and mending, of learning and unlearning, of dreaming, daring, and beginning again.
Artwork Submitted by Katie Hunter @katiehunterpaintings
It’s the stories we carry in our hearts some spoken, some painted, some felt so deeply they can only be expressed through art. It’s the memories that linger in the edges of our mind, the people who shaped us, and the fleeting seconds that changed everything.
For Issue 11, we invite artists to capture this essence to tell stories that speak of being alive. Because life is not always grand or perfect; sometimes it’s found in the smallest gestures a brushstroke, a shared silence, a memory that refuses to fade.
Life is both ordinary and extraordinary. It’s a canvas constantly evolving colored by moments of hope, resilience, loss, and love. And through your art, we hope to witness life as you see it: raw, real, and beautifully human.
What does “Life” look like through your eyes?
Artwork Submitted by Mona Singh @monasinghphotography
Is it a fleeting moment, painted in color and light?
Is it an emotion that words cannot hold?
Or a story that only your art can tell?
Let your work be a mirror that reflects your truth your beginnings, your transitions, your triumphs, and the quiet in-betweens. At Arts to Hearts, we believe that when artists share their truth, they give others the courage to find theirs. Through Life, we hope to witness art that does not just speak it breathes.
Show us the world as you see it. Let your art hold what words cannot.
Because to live is to create and every creation is proof that we are, indeed, alive.
Who Can Apply
- No exhibition history required, what matters is your voice, vision, and willingness to share your story
- Open to all women, binary, and non-binary artists worldwide
- Artists 18 years or older
- Open to all stages of career: emerging, mid-career, or established
- Works in any medium are welcome: painting, digital art, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more
Yes! you can apply too! This is your invitation to bring your creativity, your emotions, and your perspective to the theme of Life.
Important Details
Submitting your work is simple:
- Upload high-quality images of your art
- Include your artist statement describing your work and the story behind it
- Submit before the deadline: 27th October 2025
Every submission is an opportunity to be seen by a global audience of artists, curators, collectors, and art lovers, reaching people through worldwide distribution including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and more.
Awards and Prizes
We celebrate the artists who pour their hearts into their work.
- First place receives a $500 cash prize, a bespoke crystal trophy engraved in their honor, and a 2-page spread in Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 11.
- Second place wins $300, a crystal trophy, and a 2-page feature.
- While third place receives $200, a crystal trophy, and a 2-page feature as well.
But what makes us happiest is that every selected artist will be celebrated with a 2-page spread in Issue 11, seen by audiences worldwide. All selected artists also receive a custom digital certificate, and for the Top 10 artists outside of the top 3, we’ll send a beautiful physical certificate to mark this milestone in their creative journey.
What Life Means to You
Every edition of Arts to Hearts Magazine is a celebration of voices that matter. After 10 issues brimming with incredible creativity, it’s your turn to share what life means to you.
Artwork Submitted by Moriat McNamara @moriats.picture.lessons
What part of your journey do you want the world to witness? What story, emotion, or moment from your life can you turn into art? This is your space to express it to create, to inspire, and to remind the world that life itself is art, and every story deserves to be shared.
Submit your work today and let your art speak for you in Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 11.
