The most honest art show in Las Vegas this month opened today, and every piece in it started as something somebody threw away. The 2026 Keep Las Vegas Beautiful Recycled Art Contest exhibition runs November 4 to 30 at Charleston Heights Arts Center, where selected youth and adult artists have turned recycled, reused, repurposed, and reclaimed materials into original works of art.
The city of Las Vegas Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs presents the show in partnership with Neighborhood Services. As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the city says the contest brings awareness to recycling while celebrating the talent of artists working in the Las Vegas Valley. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular facility hours, so this is a full month of original local art with no ticket to buy.
What You Are Looking At, and the Rules Behind It
Here is the detail most visitors miss: the materials are not a theme, they are a requirement. Every work had to be original and incorporate recycled, reused, repurposed, or reclaimed materials, and every piece had to fit strict gallery limits that shaped what the artists could build.
- 2D artwork: maximum 40 inches by 40 inches, and no more than 40 pounds, display-ready with D-rings or wire installed.
- 3D artwork: maximum height of 3 feet, and no more than 50 pounds, stable and suitable for public exhibition.
- Who could enter: youth ages 10 to 17 and adults ages 18 and older who reside in the United States.
That means a towering sculpture made from scrap was never an option. The smartest pieces in the room are the ones that turned a tight size and weight limit into part of the idea. Entries closed October 16 at 5 p.m., selected artists were notified October 23, and the chosen work now fills the gallery at 800 S. Brush St., Las Vegas, NV 89107.
The Reception Is the Night That Matters Most
Go this week for a quiet look, but circle Friday, November 20. That is when the center hosts the public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the participants, showcase their work, and recognize the contest winners.
Six winners will come out of that night. The judging panel, artists Karla Clolinger and John McVay along with the Neighborhood Services team, recognizes one youth winner and one adult winner in each of three categories:
- Best in Show, youth and adult
- Best Use of Material, youth and adult
- People's Choice, youth and adult
The judging criteria explain what to look for on the walls: artistic excellence and originality, creative and effective use of recycled or repurposed materials, creativity and innovation in transforming those materials, and overall presentation, including craftsmanship and visual impact. Visit before November 20, score the room against those four tests, and see how close your picks land to the official ones.
How to Go, and How to Look Like a Judge
Charleston Heights Arts Center sits west of downtown and keeps long hours for a community gallery. Plan around this schedule:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., later when there is a special event or performance
- Sunday and Monday: closed
One planning warning: the exhibition's last listed day, November 30, is a Monday, a day the center is normally closed, and artwork pick-up is set for December 1. Do not save your visit for the final day. Go by Saturday, November 28, bring a young artist with you, and try this simple game in the gallery: pick the piece where the recycled material is hardest to spot. That is exactly the transformation the judges are rewarding, and it is the freshest way to see a room full of work Las Vegas made from what Las Vegas threw away.
