Kent State University’s School of Art of Art Collection and Galleries
announces a call for art, open to all Kent campus undergrads and School of Art graduate students.
2026 Student Annual Art Exhibition
(UnderGraduate Section)
A selection of artwork chosen by the juror Garth Johnson will be on display at the School of Art’s CVA Gallery, Payto Gallery and Crawford Gallery (Center for the Visual Arts, 325 Terrace Drive) from
Feberuary 27 – March 19, 2026
reception: March 19, 5-7 .
About this years Juror:
Writer, curator, and educator Garth Johnson is the Paul Phillips and Sharon Sullivan Curator of Ceramics at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York. Before taking his position at the Everson, Johnson also served as the Curator of Ceramics at the Arizona State University Ceramics Research Center. Johnson has also exhibited his work and published his writing nationally and internationally, including contributions to the recent books Funk published by Natsoulas Press and Funk You Too: Humor and Irreverence in Ceramic Sculpture published by the Museum of Arts and Design. Johnson is a self-described craft activist who explores craft’s influence and relevance in the 21st century. His research interests range from the history of American studio pottery to 1960s and 70s artist-led movements in the field of ceramics and the intersection of clay, video, and performance.
Submission
The College of the Arts encourages entries from all artists, working in any media, regardless of their major or experience.
Submission deadline: February 8, 2026 (midnight)
Juror review of submissions: by February 13, 2026
Reception and Awards Ceremony: March 19, 2026, 5–7 pm
The reception and exhibition are free and open to students and the public.
Prizes
1st, 2nd, 3rd Prizes
Eligibility:
1.Original works in any medium
Submissions are limited to three pieces per person.
Hanging work must be fitted with a professional hanging device (no tape, poorly attached wire/string/fishing wire, etc.). All artworks should be clearly labeled with the artist's name, title, medium, dimensions, and insurance value. Pieces missing any of the above may forfeit the right to be displayed.
No substitutions of accepted work.
All work will remain on display for the duration of the exhibit. Artwork on display in the Student Annual must be picked up after the exhibition closes. Details will be communicated via email by the Gallery Director.
To enter the juried competition, you must submit a PDF or JPEG image of your artwork via an online entry form. The competition is only open to works submitted online, and subsequently chosen, by the judges, to be displayed in the CVA Gallery in the Center for the Visual Arts.
If your work is chosen for exhibition, the School of Art reserves the right to use an image of your work for promotional purposes.
You must have a Kent State University Banner ID to submit work and be currently enrolled in the School of Art graduate program at the time of the exhibit.
*** If you are submitting an animation, video piece or a video of a dance, etc. Please provide link to site where video is hosted- Vimeo, Youtube, etc- in the entry description box, along with any pertinent description information. Also provide a JPEG or PDF of a "video still" in image entry box.