The Avant Garde Open

Presented by: The Black Harriers

An online painting contest for Halo Flashpoint miniatures, open to painters across mainland United States. Enter your best work, compete for Vanguard medals in your category, and battle for a spot in the Maestro tier, or the title of Avant Garde Laureate, Best in Show for the entire event.

Start here by securing your $5 entry ticket, then explore the categories, rules, and submission details below.

Buy the $5 Entry Ticket

Contest Dates

Submissions open
October 1, 2026

Submissions close
November 23, 2026, 11:59 PM Mountain Time

Winners announced
December 19, 2026

Prizes shipped
Week of January 5, 2027

Categories

Choose one single model category to enter, plus you may also enter one Squad submission.

Spartans (single model)
ODSTs (single model)
Jiralhanae (single model)
Sangheili (single model)
Squad (up to 4 models, entered together as one submission)

A model already entered in a single model category may also appear in your Squad entry.

Awards

Vanguard Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals awarded within each of the five categories.

Best in Show, the Maestro Medal, awarded across every single model entry from all four single model categories, judged independently of category placement:

  • Master Maestro, 1st Overall, earns The Avant Garde Laureate title & trophy, & Spartan Killers

  • Expert Maestro, 2nd Overall, earns commemorative plaque & the Banished Reinforcements

  • Adept Maestro, 3rd Overall, earns a commemorative plaque & the Banished Garrison Scenery

Physical prizes are awarded to the top three overall placements only. Squad entries are eligible for Vanguard medals but not for overall placement.

How to Enter

  1. Purchase the $5 entry ticket below.

  2. Email your submission photos, along with a screenshot or forward of your order confirmation, to the dedicated contest email once it is announced.

  3. Use the subject line: AVANT GARDE OPEN, [Category], [Your Name]

Entries without matching proof of purchase will not be judged. Please be sure to include your mailing address in the event that you win, as well as your first and last name.

  • At least two angles per model: front and three-quarter minimum; a back angle is encouraged.

  • Use a plain, uncluttered background.

  • Use good, even lighting with no filters or heavy editing.

  • Squad entries may include up to 6 photos total.

Photo Requirements

Display and Judging

All submissions will be featured publicly on The Black Harriers website. Judges score each entry independently against a set rubric; entries are not compared head to head. Judges' decisions are final.

Register

  • The contest is open to mainland United States residents only. Each person may enter one model in each single model category, plus one Squad entry.

  • Use an official, unmodified Mantic Halo Flashpoint miniature on its original base. No kitbashing, conversions, rebasing, or commissioned work. The entry must be new work.

  • Submit at least two angles per model on a plain background with even lighting and no filters or heavy editing. Squad entries may include up to six photos total.

  • Each entry is scored independently against a set rubric. Entries are not compared head to head, and judges' decisions are final.

  • All submissions will be featured publicly on The Black Harriers website.