Re-inventing the Portrait through Color, Form, and Composition
The portrait has long been a powerful medium through which artists explore identity, emotion, and the essence of the human condition. Human Expressions invites artists to reimagine and push the boundaries of this traditional genre, encouraging the exploration of new ways to convey the complexities of human experience. This exhibition seeks works that capture the depth of human expression through innovative approaches to portraiture, focusing on the transformative use of color, form, and composition.
We are looking for artists who are eager to break away from conventional representations of the human figure and create bold, evocative portraits that explore psychological, emotional, and conceptual facets of human identity. Whether through abstracted forms, unconventional color palettes, dynamic compositions, or mixed media, we encourage the use of any technique that can convey the intricacies of human expression in a compelling way. Any original 2D or 3D work that follows our exhibition guidelines will be considered. This includes works selected by the juror which will be exhibited in Maryland Federation of Art’s (MFA) first Human Expressions Exhibition through our Virtual Gallery from April 15 – May 31, 2025.
Sam has over a decade of experience working in museums, higher education, and arts foundations. His notable curatorial credits include Waiting for Tear Gas (2022) and Photography and Memory (2019) at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He is an award-winning educator with experience in classroom instruction and course management. His scholarship has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals in addition to interviews and essays geared towards a variety of audiences. As a public speaker, Sam has delivered over two dozen professional presentations including invited lectures at universities and art institutions.
Sam’s scholarship strives to communicate the role visual culture plays in the creation of liberatory knowledge. His research takes seriously the lessons of solidarity embedded in works of art, from their moments of production to their modes of distribution, circulation, and reception. These lessons show how visual practices can bind communities together in our intersecting fights for a better world free from all forms of oppression.
NOTE: Should Circle Gallery or any other exhibition space be closed for reasons beyond our control, MFA reserves the right to move a planned physical exhibit to our online gallery.
Watch the video below for a tutorial on how to upload your entries.
What is a submission?
One submission or application on artcall.org is the equivalent of one entry on MFA’s old entry system, or one piece submitted for jurying. Artcall.org uses the terms submission and application interchangeably.
How do I enter a video submission?
When submitting a video, you must put the link to the video in the Linked Web Resource field, and you must upload a screenshot of the video as an attachment.
Can I edit my submissions after I've submitted them?
Artcall.org requires you to select the number of submissions / applications you want to enter and to pay before entering in your image and image details. You can edit your submission details along with images you've attached up until the submission period is over. Once the submission period has ended, you cannot edit their entries in any form.
Can I add more submissions after I've paid?
You must submit a separate submission / application for each piece of artwork you wish to be shown to the juror. You have the option to add a second or third image of the same work to your submission / application as a detail photograph This is not required.
Have the entry fees changed at all?
The fees have changed but not drastically, 1 or 2 entries are $30. Up to 4 additional entries are $4.50 each. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Who is this exhibition open to?
We invite all artists residing in any of the states or territories of the US, Canada, or Mexico to enter this exhibition.
