Naturalist Gallery Figurative Art Collection

OPEN CALL FOR EXHIBITION: Naturalist Gallery Figurative Art Collection.

“The human body is the instrument of the soul.” – Aristotle

Figuration has persisted as one of the most enduring frameworks in artistic practice, continually reinterpreted across historical periods and cultural contexts. While modern and contemporary art have expanded abstraction and conceptual strategies, the representation of the human figure remains a central means through which artists investigate perception, identity, and social presence.

The Figurative Art Collection at Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art examines how contemporary artists approach figuration today. Works may explore traditional figure-based representation, distorted or symbolic bodies, narrative figuration, or conceptual treatments of human presence and absence. Rather than privileging a single aesthetic or historical tradition, the collection seeks works that demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the expressive possibilities of the figure.

Submissions are reviewed with attention to conceptual coherence, formal decision-making, and contextual relevance. Evaluation considers how the work contributes to contemporary discourse surrounding figuration rather than adherence to any single stylistic approach.

This call is open internationally to artists working in all visual media, excluding video.

Exhibition Inclusion

Artists whose works are selected through curatorial review will be included in the Figurative Art Collection. Collection inclusion constitutes the primary curatorial outcome of this call.

Selected works will:

• be documented and archived as part of the Figurative Art Collection

• be presented within the collection’s public presentation for a minimum of sixty (60) days

• be made available for sale under Naturalist Gallery’s net pricing model

Optional Institutional Placements
In addition to exhibition inclusion, selected artists may be considered for optional institutional placements within Naturalist Gallery’s broader curatorial framework. These placements are discretionary and not guaranteed.

Available placements may include:
Featured Collection Placement – Selected works may be presented within the NGCA Featured Collection on the gallery’s homepage for a limited duration. Additional fee applies.
New Arrivals Curated Placement – Selected works may be included in the New Arrivals collection documenting recently reviewed artists. Additional fee applies.
Institutional Publication Inclusion – Selected artists may be considered for inclusion in a formally authored editorial publication. Additional fee applies.

Review Process
All submissions are reviewed by a panel consisting of members of Naturalist Gallery’s curatorial team. All submissions are reviewed; not all are advanced to public presentation.

Application Fee
Artists submitting work for review are required to pay a one-time application fee of $30.

TIMELINE:
Application Opens: 7/20/26

Application Deadline: 7/27/26

Jury Dates: 7/20/26 – 7/28/26

Exhibition Dates: 7/28/26 – 9/26/26