Curators: Sergio Gomez & Didi Menendez
Gallery: 33 Contemporary Gallery at Palm Beach Art & Design Showroom, 500 N. Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth, FL
Exhibition Dates: January 9 to February 21, 2025
Application Deadline EXTENDED: Friday, December 6, 2024
Opening Reception, Thursday, January 9th from 6 to 8 pm
33 Contemporary Gallery is pleased to announce an open call for BFF (Modern Portraits), an exhibition hosted at the beautiful Palm Beach Art and Design Showroom in Lake Worth, Florida. This unique show invites artists 18 years and older from around the world to submit their work for an exploration of contemporary portraiture through an innovative lens.
Throughout history, artists have been captivated by the challenge and beauty of portraying the human likeness and identity. In BFF (Modern Portraits), we aim to capture the essence of today’s interpretations of portraiture, where personal expression intersects with the evolving concept of identity. From evocative abstract depictions to detailed hyperrealism, this exhibition invites diverse and creative approaches to the timeless art form.
Central to the exhibition is the idea of scale. We are looking for works that do not exceed 12 inches (30 cm) in any direction, including frame. This deliberate choice in size seeks to create a viewing experience that emphasizes closeness and personal interaction. By showcasing smaller works, we invite viewers to engage intimately with the art—leaning in to discover details and feeling the connection that mirrors our interactions with one another in daily life. The small scale symbolizes the modern digital realm where significant interactions often occur in close, handheld proximity, reflecting the exhibition’s title, BFF (Modern Portraits), inspired by the informal, immediate nature of today’s digital communication.
Online Sales via Artsy:
The entire exhibition will be available for sale online through Artsy under the 33 Contemporary Gallery listing, maximizing the exposure for participating artists. This effort ensures that the artworks will reach a larger audience, offering additional opportunities for sales and visibility.
Exhibition Catalog:
To complement the exhibition, 33 Contemporary Gallery will create a free digital catalog featuring all participating artists and their works. Additionally, physical copies of the catalog will be available for purchase at cost online. This catalog will serve as a lasting record of the exhibition and provide further exposure for the artists.
Eligibility: Open to all artists 18 years and older worldwide, working in any medium including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media that explores the portraiture theme. video, and installation art are not eligible for this opportunity. Art may be of any style from abstraction to representation. Art must be for sale in order to be included in Artsy.
$30 for up to 3 artworks.
1. Does the artwork need to be framed?
No, paintings do not need to be framed and can be submitted unframed. However, works on paper must either be mounted or framed, adhering to the 12-inch (30 cm) maximum size rule.
2. Does the artwork need to be exactly 12 x 12 inch square?
Not necessarily! Artwork can be rectangular, as long as neither dimension exceeds 12 inches (30 cm).
3. Is digital art eligible?
Yes! Digital artwork is welcome, provided it is printed and ready to hang.
4. Does the artwork need to be realistic?
No, all artistic styles are encouraged, from abstract to realism. The key requirement is that the piece must represent a portrait in some way.
5. Can I submit more than one piece?
Yes, you may submit up to three different works for consideration, all covered under a single $30 submission fee.
Artwork Requirements:
High-resolution and clear images of the artwork (JPEG format, maximum 3 MB each).
◦ Title, medium, dimensions, price, and year of creation for each piece.
◦ Artist statement.
◦ Link to website and/or Instagram.
Shipping:
Artists will be responsible for shipping to and from the gallery if the artwork is not sold. All accepted artwork must be in the gallery by January 6, 2025
Sales Commission Split:
50% Artist / 50% Gallery
Selection Process:
Selected artists will be notified no later than Monday,December 9, 2024. A list of selected artists will be posted on our website www.33contemporary.com.
About Sergio Gomez, Curator & Gallery Director
Sergio Gomez is a highly regarded visual artist recognized for his powerful large-scale figurative abstraction paintings and charcoal drawings that explore profound life cycles. With an extensive artistic career, his work has been showcased in over 45 solo exhibitions across the United States and in various international museums, including those in Romania, Italy, Mexico, and Vienna.
In addition to his remarkable studio work, Sergio Gomez is a prolific curator, having curated over 100 exhibitions since 2010. His curatorial journey includes serving as the Director of Exhibitions at the Zhou B. Art Center, founding the 33 Contemporary Gallery, and co-founding the acclaimed coaching academy, Art NXT Level®. Notably, he played a pivotal role in directing the National Wet Paint MFA exhibition, an influential project that spotlighted top MFA painting students on a national stage.
Sergio's significant curatorial achievement with 33 Contemporary Gallery includes the decade-long stewardship of the National Self Portrait Annual Exhibition in Chicago from 2004 to 2014. This exhibition, transformed by Gomez's talent, became one of the largest and most anticipated self-portrait showcases in the nation, attracting over 500 artists over the ten-year span. His curatorial prowess has been sought after by esteemed institutions and events, ranging from the Chicago Park District to the National Museum of Mexican Art.
About Didi Menendez, Curator & Marketing Director
Didi Menendez is a Cuban-born American publisher and digital artist. She is the Marketing Director and Curator of Contemporary Realism at 33 Contemporary in Miami. Besides 33 Contemporary, she has curated group shows at Bernarducci.Meisel Gallery, NY, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, the MEAM in Barcelona, Sirona Fine Art Gallery in Florida, Flinders Lane Gallery in Australia, RJD Gallery in New York, and at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago. She is considered a pioneer of the online poetry publishing arena since the last century. Her publications have been anthologized in the Pushcart Prize Best of the Small Presses, and Best American Poetry series. She runs a very active figurative art community at 33PA formerly known as PoetsArtists (www.poetsandartists.com). A selection of her publications are archived at the United States of America Library of Congress and with with the Lunar Codex, a payload scheduled to be archived on the moon by Dr. Samuel Peralta.
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