RULES, ADVICE & BEST PRACTICES FOR YOUR SUBMISSION .

First, other than our juried show, each show asks for work in a theme.  We suggest that you choose work you think will fit that specific “Call for Artists” best.

 Second, we'll always have a couple bigger pieces, a couple of really small pieces and a lot in between for each show.  We'll also have quite a few expensive pieces, quite a few less expensive pieces and a lot of beautiful work that sits in between.  Please bear that in mind when choosing pieces to submit.

Third, we suggest you submit 3 works, but know that might not always be practical, so if you cannot submit 3 works, we suggest you do more than one to give you better chances of acceptance. It gives us a variety to consider along with other submissions. We are always trying to make a cohesive show. The more you submit, the more we can potentially integrate.

Sharing work that varies in size and pricing is also helpful. Our aim is to share a diverse body of work by a multitude of unique artists at varied price points and in many different materialities and styles.

 Here’s the specific guidance for work shown at Powell Lane Arts:

  • Works should be no larger than 40” on their longest side (they can be up to 45” including any frame), and may weigh no more than 50 lbs.
    For our Small Works Show, works should be no larger than 18” on their longest side inclusive of any framing, and may weigh no more than 15 lbs.  We also ask (for the Small Works Show only) that prices be no more than $300.

  • Paintings on stretched canvas may have the edges neatly painted in lieu of a frame or may be framed.  Please no unfinished edges.

  • Graphics, photographs, watercolors, and prints must be under glass.  Any frames that leave edges of glass exposed will not be acceptable.

  • If accepted, all wall-hung pieces must be appropriately wired with braided stainless steel wire (or similar braided multi-filament material).

    Here is a handy tutorial of our expectation:
    https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/hanging-a-painting-wire-d-rings-2578378

    And a video of an alternative approach:
    https://youtu.be/LBnqLeEiI2k

  • Our selections will be made on specific artwork.  Any acceptance in a show is based on the works you originally submitted.  Because we curate the shows to work cohesively, we do not accept substitutions for unavailable work.  Please know we will do our best to notify you of your acceptance or rejection in a timely fashion so as not to tie up your work; however, we expect to have exclusive rights to any accepted works from the date of the show’s opening through the close of the show.  Knowing this, please bear this in mind when submitting.

  • Also—unless it is negotiated otherwise—Powell Lane Arts receives a commission of 40% for any work sold in conjunction with each exhibition.

Finally, we try to give plenty of time for artists to answer our open calls, so that every artist has time to research us as a business through our website, social media and through other artists you may know. But this also means, we really value submissions that are well-put together. This doesn’t mean hiring someone to brand and market you to us — we just focus on the essentials:

  1. Sure— we need to know who you are (name, address, phone, email, website, social media, etc.) in order to contact you about our decision, but more importantly…

  2. We want to know what you are trying to communicate through your work, so we ask for an artist’s statement. And we really mean it: it doesn’t have to be flower-y or a whole lecture on your work and your professional background. Give us the nuts and bolts of what you want us to see, and what your process is in making the work. You can find other examples of this on our pages, but here are a couple that we think are particularly strong…

    https://www.powelllanearts.com/2022-winter-invitational/ruth-wolf

    https://www.powelllanearts.com/2023-portray-it/luke-weichmann

    https://www.powelllanearts.com/2023-portray-it/jonathan-greenberg

  3. And most important of all: we need good quality photos of your work. Files that are well-cropped and balanced will be given priority consideration. Should a work be accepted, the image you provide is what will be used on our website.   Be mindful that the images you present are the primary means we have for determining if your piece will work within the show. Anything that distracts us from the piece (i.e., a low res or blurry image, an image with random objects alongside your work, a badly placed watermark, etc.) detracts from our ability to make decisions.

  4. Finally, we’ll be asking for the following details on the Image Upload pages:

    • Title, Medium and Edition Information (for prints and photography, etc.).

    • Dimensions, Framing Status (including measurements, if applicable).

    • Price.

      Click here to view a sample of the Image Upload Pages.

      ** Please note, it is our expectation that the work we show is for sale. We are a boutique, first and foremost,
      so if accepted, we will expect your piece to be on offer in that show’s collection of available works. **

 Thank you for submitting with us.  We know being a creative takes a certain amount of bravery and a lot of patience during often intimidating, frustrating and subjective processes.  We've definitely been there.  If you don’t get into the specific show for which you applied, know there are a multitude of reasons which fed into the decision and many of them are beyond your control.  Don’t lose heart.  Feel that frustration, reach out to us with any questions and when you are ready, get back in there.  All art is subjective, and one person’s no is another person’s yes. 

So, let’s have at it!