Detroit Artist Airbrush Design Competition

Fleet Feet is thrilled to announce our first-ever Detroit Artist Airbrush Design Competition! 

The Detroit Artist Airbrush Design Competition is a skill-based competition intended to celebrate Detroit artists and showcase Detroit-centric artwork. Winners of the competition will have their art featured on limited-edition merchandise and offer live, on-site customization experiences at the Detroit Free Press Marathon. 

Eligibility

The Competition is open only to individuals who:

• Are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry
• Are legally eligible to work in the United States
• Reside in the Detroit metropolitan area and are able to attend both official days of the Detroit Free Press Marathon Expo on Friday, October 16th, and Saturday, October 17th
• Have the equipment and capability to do live airbrush artwork on footwear

Submission Period

Entries will be accepted beginning on March 30 and April 20. Late submissions will not be considered.

Entry Requirements

Entrants must submit an original Detroit-themed artwork design created in an airbrush style suitable for apparel sublimation. 

Submissions should be sent to gabrielle.lamb@fleetfeet.com and must include a signed Artist Submission Agreement.

Artwork must:

• Be entirely original
• Not infringe on any third-party intellectual property or contain protected trademarks, logos, or copyrighted materials, including that of the Detroit Free Press Marathon
• Be appropriate for public display and brand collaboration

Judging Criteria

This is a skill-based competition. All judging decisions are final. Entries will be evaluated based on:

• Artistic quality
• Detroit relevance and authenticity
• Alignment with brand partners
• Production feasibility
• Ability to execute live customization

Finalist and Winner Selection

Three (3) artists will be selected as winners. Finalist artwork must receive approval from The Detroit Free Press Marathon Race Director and Fleet Feet’s brand partners. Failure to obtain approvals may result in disqualification.

Prize and Participation

Selected artists will:

• Have their artwork produced on limited-edition apparel
• Be required to participate in the Detroit Free Press Marathon Expo to perform live airbrush customization on designated footwear products

Artists will receive compensation for live customization services at a rate of $250 per day as an appearance fee and $50 per pair of shoes painted. Payment terms will be defined in a separate contractor agreement.

Before submitting, please review the Official Rules for full details, requirements, and eligibility.