Open Call for First Generation Artists
Presented by Galerie Shibumi in partnership with Creative Urban Alchemy
Location: Galerie Shibumi, 261 West 35th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY
First Generation: Woven Narratives
Exhibition Dates: June – July, 2026
Application Deadline: Febuary 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
Notification of Acceptance: March 2026
Curatorial Framework
First Generation: Woven Narratives showcases the fiber and textile works of first generation American artists whose practices embody the convergence of cultural inheritance and contemporary Western art traditions. This exhibition explores how these artists translate their lived experiences into textile-based narratives that blend the visual languages of their ancestral cultures with the conceptual and formal frameworks of contemporary art.
In the context of this exhibition, “first generation” extends beyond its conventional definition. It includes artists whose identities and practices are shaped by movement, migration, and cultural inheritance, whether through their own displacement or through intergenerational diasporic experience. These artists navigate multiple cultural lineages and geographies, translating hybrid identities into their artistic practices through form, material, and concept.
Textile and fiber art, intimate, tactile, and historically layered, offer an unparalleled space to articulate identity, belonging, and transformation. The featured artists honor their inherited traditions while expanding them, using fiber as a language of multiplicity that refuses the binaries of East and West, tradition and contemporary, or craft and fine art.
Eligibility
- Open to artists who identify as first generation in the broader sense described above, including those connected to diaspora, migration, or cultural hybridity.
- Artists must work primarily in fiber, textile, or mixed media incorporating textile processes or materials.
- All gender identities, cultural backgrounds, and geographic locations within the United States are welcome.
- Both emerging and mid-career artists are encouraged to apply.
Submission Materials
Artist Statement (250–500 words) addressing your practice and its relationship to the exhibition theme.
Up to 5 images of recent or relevant works (JPEG format, max 2 MB each). Include title, medium, dimensions, and year.
Artist Bio and CV (PDF).
Brief description (100 words) of the work(s) you wish to exhibit, including dimensions and materials.
Optional: Links to website or social media.
Gallery Support
Galerie Shibumi will provide:
- Professional gallery space and installation
- Opening reception and collector preview
- Professional installation photography
- Inclusion in press outreach and gallery newsletter
- Direct contact and outreach to collectors and art advisors
- Social media promotion across platforms
- Staffed gallery hours during the exhibition
- Insurance coverage for all works while on site
Artist Responsibilities
- Deliver artwork ready to hang or install by the stated delivery date.
- Share progress images, dimensions, and materials with the gallery in advance.
- Promote the exhibition to their networks and invite guests.
- Communicate promptly with the gallery and be respectful of all staff.
- Be on time, collaborative, and professional during install and events.
- Pick up artwork within the stated deinstallation window.
- Have fun and engage with the community.
Rules
Curatorial intent is central: All works must engage with the theme of travel in a thoughtful way.
Artists are responsible for costs related to framing, delivery, and pick-up of works.
Submissions must be original photographs created by the artist.
All accepted works will be consigned to Galerie Shibumi for the duration of the exhibition and will be subject to a 50/50 split if sold.
Accepted artists agree to participate in promotional efforts, including providing bios, headshots, and additional images if requested.
Galerie Shibumi reserves the right to make final curatorial decisions on works selected for display.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
1. Consignment and Sales
If the artwork is for sale, it will be consigned to Galerie Shibumi for the full duration of the exhibition. The gallery and artist will split any sales 50/50. All payments to artists will be made within 30 days of the collector’s full payment.
If a work does not sell by the end of the exhibition, ownership remains with the artist. The artist may not remove or substitute the work before the close of the exhibition without prior written consent from the gallery.
2. Curation and Installation
The gallery reserves full curatorial discretion. Final exhibition layout and artwork placement will be determined by the gallery’s curatorial team. Artists are welcome to assist in their own installation but must follow the direction of the gallery and its professional art installer.
3. Marketing and Promotion
The gallery will oversee all official marketing, PR, and social media campaigns. Artists are encouraged but not required to promote the exhibition independently. The gallery does not guarantee press coverage or sales outcomes but will actively promote the show to collectors, press, and cultural partners.
4. Insurance and Handling
All artworks will be insured while on the gallery premises. Galerie Shibumi commits to handling all pieces with the utmost care and professional standards of art handling and presentation.
5. Delivery and Pick-Up
Artists are responsible for delivering and retrieving their work at their own expense by the dates specified in the acceptance email. Works not picked up within 30 days after deinstallation may incur storage fees or be considered abandoned.
6. Reproduction Rights
By participating, the artist grants Galerie Shibumi the right to photograph, film, and reproduce images of the submitted work(s) for promotional, press, and educational purposes related to the exhibition (including online and print materials).
7. Conduct and Communication
All participating artists agree to maintain professional communication with gallery staff and other exhibiting artists. Any disrespectful or disruptive behavior may result in removal from the exhibition.
8. Liability and Indemnification
The gallery assumes no responsibility for damage or loss occurring during shipping to or from the gallery. Insurance coverage begins upon the artwork’s confirmed receipt at Galerie Shibumi.
9. Agreement to Terms
By submitting to this open call, the artist acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to the terms above. Submission constitutes acceptance of all conditions and serves as a binding agreement between the artist and Galerie Shibumi.
Important Dates
● Application Deadline: February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
● Notification of Acceptance: March 2026
● Delivery of Artwork: TBD
● Opening Reception: TBD
● Exhibition Dates: June – July 2026
● Artwork Pick-Up: at the close of the exhibition
Contact
Galerie Shibumi
261 West 35th Street, Suite 1401 New York, NY
www.galerieshibumi.com
Instagram: @galerieshibumi