OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS
Upcoming Exhibition:
Dream of Home Away
Van Der Plas Gallery invites emerging and established artists working across all media to submit work for Dream of Home Away, an upcoming group exhibition in New York City's Lower East Side.
The exhibition will bring together contemporary artistic practices through the gallery's ongoing Open Call Program, which supports artists at different stages of their careers and creates opportunities for their work to be presented within the highest professional gallery setting.
On view: February 12th - February 25th, 2027
Opening reception: February 12th, 2027, 6 - 8 pm
Submission deadline: January 22nd, 2027
Submission Details:
Open to all artists • Up to 4 artworks • Application fee required
Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." — Twyla Tharp
Dream of Home Away is a group exhibition exploring identity, belonging, and the personal meaning of home. Through memory, imagination, and lived experience, the exhibition considers how we understand ourselves in relation to the places we inhabit, the people around us, and the worlds we create.
Home is not always a fixed place. It can be familiar or foreign, comforting or uncertain, something we carry with us or something we continue to search for. The exhibition invites artists to reflect on how their individual experiences shape their sense of belonging, and how the world around them can feel both real and dreamlike through their own perspective.
We are especially interested in work that expresses a distinct personal voice, whether through representations of familiar environments, imagined landscapes, intimate memories, or entirely abstract interpretations of place and identity. Artists are encouraged to approach the theme openly, considering what home means to them and how that meaning influences the way they see themselves and others.
Artists working in all media are encouraged to submit, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, mixed media, and more.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Van Der Plas Gallery’s Open Call Program is a year-round opportunity for artists to be considered for exhibitions at our Lower East Side gallery in New York City, reflecting the gallery’s longstanding commitment to supporting emerging and established artists through exhibitions, public programming, and ongoing open call opportunities.
We welcome submissions from emerging and established artists working across all media. We seek work that demonstrates originality, conceptual depth, and a distinctive artistic voice while reflecting the diversity of contemporary practice.
Our curatorial team reviews every submission with care and consideration. Applications received during the current cycle are being considered for Dream of Home Away. Our upcoming group exhibition, as well as future exhibitions, will be presented through the Open Call Program.
While selection is not guaranteed, submitted work remains under consideration as part of the gallery’s ongoing exhibition programming and may be reviewed for future opportunities beyond the current exhibition cycle.
WHY APPLY
Exhibit in New York City
Showcase your work at Van Der Plas Gallery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, alongside a dynamic community of contemporary artists.
Thoughtful Curatorial Review
Every submission receives individual consideration from our curatorial team.
Professional Exposure
Connect your work with collectors, curators, writers, and the wider art community through professionally promoted exhibitions.
Exhibition Documentation
Receive professional photography documenting your participation in the exhibition.
Future Opportunities
Be considered for future exhibitions through our ongoing Open Call Program.
HOW IT WORKS
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Complete the online application.
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Upload up to 4 artworks.
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Submit the $35 application fee.
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Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by our curatorial team.
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Selected artists are contacted directly regarding exhibition participation.
SUBMISSION GUIDLINES
We welcome submissions from artists working in all media, including but not limited to:
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Painting
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Sculpture
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Photography
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Printmaking
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Mixed Media
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Digital Art
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Experimental Practices
Please include:
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Artist name and contact information
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Artist bio and artist statement (100-200 words each)
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Up to four artworks (JPG)
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Installation images (JPG) for framed artwork or any other applicable work
We look for originality, conceptual clarity, and a strong artistic vision.
FAQ
Who can apply?
Artists at every stage of their career are welcome to apply. We accept submissions from both emerging and established artists working in all media.
International artists are welcome to apply. Shipping, delivery, return arrangements, and all associated costs are the responsibility of the artist.
How are submissions reviewed?
Submissions are reviewed by our curatorial team throughout the year as part of the Open Call Program. Applications received during the current cycle are being considered for Dream of Home Away as well as future exhibitions.
Is exhibiting guaranteed?
No. All submissions are considered by our curatorial team, and participation is subject to selection.
What happens if I'm selected?
Selected artists will be notified by email directly regarding participation in the upcoming exhibition. Details regarding artwork, installation, and scheduling will be shared at that time.
What does the $35 application fee include?
The fee supports the time and labor involved in reviewing each submission, administrative coordination, exhibition planning, and the ongoing costs of operating a physical gallery and producing exhibitions.
Can I apply more than once?
Yes. Artists are welcome to submit new work at any time. Each submission is reviewed independently.
What are the framing requirements?
All artwork on paper must be framed with plexiglass instead of glass. The Gallery recommends a minimum two-inch mat, a museum-style frame in natural wood, black, or whitewashed finishes.
Artwork that does not meet the Gallery's framing requirements may be excluded from the exhibition, even after delivery.
For additional details and photo references, please refer to the Terms & Conditions below.
Does the Gallery offer framing services?
Van Der Plas Gallery offers custom framing services for an additional fee. Please contact the Gallery in advance for pricing and arrangements.
Must all artwork be available for sale?
All artwork must be available for sale for the duration of the exhibition. Selected artists will be asked to provide pricing after acceptance; please contact us to evaluate the pricing on your artwork. Works that are not available for sale may be declined or excluded from the exhibition.
ABOUT VAN DER PLAS GALLERY
Founded in New York City in the 1980s, Van Der Plas Gallery has exhibited emerging and established contemporary artists with a focus on downtown culture, outsider art, street art, painting, sculpture, and experimental practices. Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the gallery continues to support artists through exhibitions, public programming, and recurring open call opportunities.
