We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for artists to participate in our upcoming virtual exhibition: “Figurative Art.”
This open call invites artists of all levels, from emerging creators to established professionals, to explore the enduring power and expressive possibilities of figurative art.
For centuries, artists have turned to the human figure to tell stories, express emotion, explore identity, and reflect the world around them. Whether rooted in observation or imagination, figurative art continues to evolve, offering endless opportunities to examine the human experience through form, gesture, movement, and presence.
Through this exhibition, we invite you to interpret Figurative Art in your own unique way. How do you represent the human form? What stories, emotions, relationships, or ideas emerge through your figures? How does your work explore identity, culture, memory, movement, or the connections that shape our lives?
Your work may feature a single figure, groups of people, narrative scenes, or symbolic representations of the human form. It may be rooted in realism or abstraction, tradition or experimentation. Whether your work captures quiet moments of introspection, dynamic movement, everyday life, or imagined worlds, every interpretation is welcome.
This exhibition celebrates the diversity and versatility of figurative art across cultures, styles, and mediums. It is an opportunity to explore not only what the human figure looks like, but what it can communicate.
From painting to photography, drawing to sculpture, printmaking to digital art, collage to mixed media, textile art, and contemporary practices, artists working in all visual mediums are encouraged to bring their interpretation of Figurative Art to life.
Join us as we celebrate one of art’s most enduring and compelling genres. Share your work with an international audience, connect with a global community of artists and art enthusiasts, and contribute to a curated exhibition exploring the many ways the human figure continues to inspire contemporary art.
We look forward to discovering the stories, perspectives, and interpretations you choose to share through Figurative Art.
Important Note
Please note that all submitted artwork will undergo a juried selection process, and inclusion is not guaranteed.
The Open Call for Artists Virtual Exhibition Series is an international initiative dedicated to providing artists with meaningful opportunities to exhibit their work, expand their professional visibility, and connect with audiences around the world.
Created to support artists at every stage of their careers, the series presents curated online exhibitions centered around diverse themes and artistic genres. Each exhibition brings together a carefully selected collection of works from artists across different countries, backgrounds, and creative practices, celebrating the richness and diversity of contemporary art.
More than an online showcase, the Virtual Exhibition Series offers artists the opportunity to present their work within a professionally curated exhibition, gain international exposure, and strengthen their exhibition history through participation in a recognized global platform.
Open to artists working across all visual mediums, the series encourages a wide range of artistic perspectives while creating opportunities for discovery, recognition, and meaningful engagement with collectors, curators, galleries, fellow artists, and art enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether you are an emerging artist seeking your first international exhibition or an established professional looking to broaden your audience, the Virtual Exhibition Series provides an accessible platform to share your work, build your professional profile, and become part of a growing international creative community.
Figurative Art invites artists to explore the human form through their own unique artistic vision. From realistic representation to contemporary abstraction, figurative art continues to be one of the most compelling ways to express emotion, identity, movement, relationships, and the shared human experience.
This theme is intentionally broad, encouraging artists to interpret figurative art in ways that reflect their individual practice. Your work may focus on a single figure, multiple figures, self-portraiture, narrative scenes, gesture, movement, or symbolic representations of the human body. Whether your approach is traditional or contemporary, every interpretation is welcome.
The human figure has inspired artists for centuries, serving as a powerful subject through which stories are told, cultures are documented, and emotions are expressed. Today, figurative art continues to evolve, embracing new perspectives, techniques, and ideas while remaining deeply connected to the universal experience of being human.
Your work may be realistic or abstract, expressive or minimalist, observational or conceptual. It may celebrate the beauty of the human form, explore themes of identity and belonging, capture movement and gesture, or examine personal, social, and cultural narratives. Some artists may focus on anatomy and form, while others may use the figure as a vehicle for symbolism, storytelling, or emotional expression.
Whether your work centers on individuals, families, communities, or imagined figures, this exhibition welcomes diverse perspectives and artistic voices from across the globe.
You may explore:
The human figure and anatomy
Identity, culture, and belonging
Emotion, gesture, and movement
Narrative and storytelling
Relationships and human connection
Contemporary and traditional figurative practice
Symbolic and conceptual interpretations of the figure
Abstract explorations of the human form
Artists working across all visual mediums—including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, digital art, collage, mixed media, textile art, and experimental practices—are encouraged to submit work that reflects their interpretation of the theme.
With Figurative Art, we invite you to celebrate one of art’s most enduring subjects and explore the many ways the human figure can communicate beauty, vulnerability, strength, identity, and experience.
We look forward to discovering your interpretation of Figurative Art.
The application fee for Figurative Art is $12 USD, which includes the submission of up to 3 artworks for consideration.
Your application fee supports the administration, review process, curation, exhibition development, and promotion of the virtual exhibition. Every submission will be carefully reviewed by our selection panel, and selected artists will be featured as part of an international online exhibition celebrating contemporary figurative art.
We welcome artists at all stages of their careers and working across all visual mediums. Whether you are an emerging artist building your exhibition history or an established practitioner expanding your international presence, Figurative Art offers an opportunity to present your work within a professionally curated global exhibition.
Artists may also choose to add a Personalized Artist Interview Feature to their application.
If selected, your interview will be published on our website and will explore your artistic journey, creative process, inspirations, and the ideas behind your work. It provides an opportunity to share the story behind your figurative practice while giving collectors, curators, galleries, and fellow artists deeper insight into your work.
In addition, your interview will be promoted across our digital platforms, including our social media channels with a combined audience of 100,000+ followers, helping introduce your work to a wider international audience.
A dedicated feature focused entirely on you and your artistic practice
An opportunity to discuss your creative process, inspiration, and artistic vision
Permanent publication on our website
Additional exposure beyond the virtual exhibition
Promotion across our website, newsletter, and social media channels
A professional feature that can be included in your portfolio, CV, website, grant applications, and artist profile
Many artists find that sharing the ideas and stories behind their work helps audiences engage more deeply with their practice while strengthening their professional presence.
We look forward to reviewing your submission and discovering your interpretation of Figurative Art.
Applications are open to artists from around the world.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.
Open to artists of all genders, nationalities, and backgrounds.
Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply.
Artists working across all visual art mediums are welcome, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, illustration, digital art, mixed media, textile art, collage, and experimental practices.
Artwork submitted must align with the exhibition theme: Figurative Art.
All submitted work must be original and created by the applying artist.
Artists may submit artwork that has been previously exhibited, provided they retain all rights to the artwork and submitted images.
Collaborative works may be submitted if all contributing artists are properly credited and have given their consent.
We welcome a wide range of artistic styles and approaches. Whether your work is realistic, contemporary, abstract, conceptual, expressive, or experimental, we encourage you to share your interpretation of Figurative Art and the many ways the human figure can be explored through art.
Please note that submission of an application and payment of the application fee does not guarantee selection.
All entries will be reviewed through a juried selection process based on artistic quality, originality, technical execution, relevance to the theme, and overall presentation. Selected artists will be notified following the review period and invited to participate in the exhibition.
We encourage artists to submit their strongest work and look forward to discovering diverse interpretations of Figurative Art from around the world.
The deadline for submissions is August 23, 2026.
Applications must be submitted before 11:59 PM (your local time) on the deadline date. We encourage artists to apply early and allow sufficient time to complete their submission, upload artwork, and review all application details before submitting.
Late, incomplete, or unpaid applications will not be considered.
Due to the volume of submissions received, deadline extensions are not guaranteed. We encourage artists to submit their work well in advance to avoid any last-minute technical or upload issues.
We look forward to reviewing your work and discovering your interpretation of Figurative Art.
FAQ
This open call is open to artists worldwide, regardless of gender or experience level. Whether you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned professional, you are welcome to submit your work.
You can submit any form of creative expression, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, mixed media, and more. There are no restrictions or themes—it’s all about your unique vision.
Yes, The fee for submitting your work to the Virtual Exhibition is $12.
By applying, you’ll gain global exposure through our Virtual Exhibition, where your work will be seen by collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts. Additionally, if you choose the add-on of Artist Interview, your work will be featured on our website and promoted to our social media audience of over 100,000+ followers, significantly amplifying your reach.
Simply follow the submission guidelines provided on our platform. Ensure that your work is formatted according to the specifications and uploaded before the deadline.
Our jury carefully reviews all submissions to select works based on creativity, originality, and impact. Every submission is given equal consideration, regardless of the artist’s background or experience.
Artists whose work is selected will be notified via email. Be sure to check your inbox regularly and provide accurate contact information during the submission process.
For any additional questions or inquiries, please visit the Open Call For Artists website or contact their team directly at info@opencallforartists.com
