2025 Illinois Community College Juried Studio Art Exhibition

About the Open Call

OVERVIEW: The Art + Design Department at Northeastern Illinois University welcomes studio art submissions from Illinois Community and Junior College students. This exhibition aims to highlight a range of artistic disciplines and techniques that engage with contemporary concepts and themes. The exhibition will be on view for a month in NEIU's Skylight Gallery, with an opening reception on September 25th from 6-9PM. JUROR: Jenny Halpern explores material, time, and identity, drawing from materials that carry emotional histories. Her work has been featured in Studio Visit Magazine (Vol. 53) and exhibited at Rushwoman, Yes Project Space at Zhou B Art Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, JULIUS CAESAR, Color Club, Hyde Park Art Center, Woman Made Gallery, CNL Projects, Latin School Gallery, NEIU Gallery, Parlour & Ramp, and Ivory Gate Gallery. She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Communication Design from Purdue University and an Associate’s degree in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design. jennyhalpern.com @jennyhalpern AWARDS: 1st Place: $200 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card, 2nd Place: $150 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card, 3rd Place: $100 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card. KEY DATES: August 1: Submissions Open, September 7: Entry Deadline (11:59pm CST), September 11: Notification of Acceptance, September 17 - 19: Drop off work to NEIU, September 25: Exhibition Reception (6:00 - 9:00 PM @ NEIU), September 25 - October 9: Exhibition Open, October 15 -17: Artwork Pickup. ELIGIBILITY: The exhibition is open to all students currently enrolled in an Illinois Community or Junior College; all artwork must date from August 2023 to the present. SPECIFICATIONS: Each student artist may submit up to three original works. Image Submission: Submit high-resolution jpeg photographs that accurately represent artworks. Files should be approximately 1,500 pixels on the longest side. Name files with your first name, last name, and an entry number: Ex. Jane_Smith_1.jpg. 2D + 3D Works: Eligible 2D and 3D works include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, wood, metal, and digitial fabrication. 2D and 3D works should not exceed 60 inches in any dimension. Installations, video, web-based, and audio works are currently not eligible. Accepted Works: All artwork accepted for the exhibition must be ready for professional installation (framed/wired or alternative approved methods appropriate to the work). Plexiglas is preferred over conventional glass. Drop Off / Pick Up: Artists are responsible for the transportation of their work to and from the gallery. Accepted work should be delivered during designated office hours (M-F 8:30-4:30pm) or by appointment by contacting (773) 442-4910 or art@neiu.edu. All work must remain in the show for the duration of the exhibit. Fees/Sales/Commissions: There is no entry fee. All sales inquiries will be forwarded directly to the artist. No commissions will be taken from sales. Work does not have to be for sale to be exhibited in the show. Publicity: By submitting this application, the artist agrees to all conditions stated here. The artist also agrees to release images of the artwork for publicity and cataloging purposes. Notification: Artists will be notified via email whether or not the jury selected their submissions.

What is Offered

1st Place: $200 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card, 2nd Place: $150 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card, 3rd Place: $100 BLICK Art Materials Gift Card

Requirements

Open to all students currently enrolled in an Illinois Community or Junior College. All artwork must date from August 2023 to the present. Each artist may submit up to three original works. Eligible 2D and 3D works include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, wood, metal, and digital fabrication, not exceeding 60 inches in any dimension. Installations, video, web-based, and audio works are not eligible. Accepted works must be ready for professional installation (framed/wired or approved methods); Plexiglas is preferred over conventional glass.

How to Apply

Artists must submit up to three high-resolution JPEG images (approx. 1,500 pixels on longest side, named with first name, last name, and entry number) of their original artwork via the online Jotform application. Accepted works must be professionally prepared for installation, and artists are responsible for transportation to and from the gallery.